TERM LOAN AGREEMENT Dated as of March 30, 2006 among VENOCO, INC., as Borrower, and BMC, LTD. and WHITTIER PIPELINE CORPORATION, as Original Guarantors, The Several Lenders from Time to Time Parties Hereto, CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH as...

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EXHIBIT 10.2

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT
Dated as of March 30, 2006
among
VENOCO, INC., as Borrower,
and
BMC, LTD. and
WHITTIER PIPELINE CORPORATION,
as Original Guarantors,
The Several Lenders
from Time to Time Parties Hereto,
CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
as Administrative Agent,
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC
and
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.,
as Joint Lead Arrangers,
XXXXXX XXXXXXX CORP.,
as Co-Arranger, and
XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.,
as Syndication Agent

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
Article I DEFINITIONS		1
1.1	Certain Defined Terms	1
1.2	Other Interpretive Provisions	20
1.3	Accounting Principles	20
Article II THE CREDIT		21
2.1	Amounts and Terms of the Loans	21
2.2	Maturity Date	21
2.3	Conversion and Continuation Elections	21
2.4	Optional Prepayments	22
2.5	Mandatory Prepayments	22
2.6	Repayment 29	23
2.7	Interest	24
2.8	Fees	24
2.9	Computation of Fees and Interest	24
2.10	Payments by the Company; Loans Pro Rata	25
2.11	Payments by the Lenders to the Administrative Agent	26
2.12	Sharing of Payments, Etc	27
Article III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY		28
3.1	Taxes	28
3.2	Illegality	28
3.3	Increased Costs and Reduction of Return	29
3.4	Funding Losses	29
3.5	Inability to Determine Rates	30
3.6	Certificates of Lenders	30
3.7	Substitution of Lenders	30
3.8	Survival	30
Article IV SECURITY		31
4.1	The Security	31
4.2	Agreement to Deliver Security Documents	31
4.3	Perfection and Protection of Security Interests and Liens	31
4.4	Offset	31
4.5	Guaranty	32
4.6	Production Proceeds	32
Article V CONDITIONS PRECEDENT		33
5.1	Conditions of the Effective Date	33
5.2	Conditions to All Credit Extensions	36
Article VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES		36
6.1	Organization, Existence and Power	36
6.2	Corporate Authorization; No Contravention	37
6.3	Governmental Authorization	37
6.4	Binding Effect	37
6.5	Litigation	37
6.6	No Default	37
6.7	ERISA Compliance	38
6.8	Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations	38
6.9	Title to Properties	38

6.10	Oil and Gas Reserves	38
6.11	Reserve Report	39
6.12	Gas Imbalances	39
6.13	Taxes	39
6.14	Financial Statements and Condition	39
6.15	Environmental Matters	40
6.16	Regulated Entities	40
6.17	No Burdensome Restrictions	40
6.18	Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses, etc	41
6.19	Subsidiaries	41
6.20	Insurance	41
6.21	Full Disclosure	41
6.22	Solvency	41
6.23	Labor Matters	41
6.24	Downstream Contracts	42
6.25	Derivative Contracts	42
6.26	Ellwood Subsidiary	42
6.27	Senior Notes Indenture	42
6.28	Existing Indebtedness	42
6.29	TexCal Acquisition Documents	42
6.30	Security Documents	42
ARTICLE VII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS		43
7.1	Financial Statements	43
7.2	Certificates; Other Production and Reserve Information	44
7.3	Notices	45
7.4	Preservation of Company Existence, Etc	45
7.5	Maintenance of Property	45
7.6	Insurance	46
7.7	Payment of Obligations	46
7.8	Compliance with Laws	46
7.9	Compliance with ERISA	46
7.10	Inspection of Property and Books and Records	46
7.11	Environmental Laws	47
7.12	New Subsidiary Guarantors	47
7.13	Use of Proceeds	47
7.14	Further Assurances	47
7.15	Hedging Program	48
7.16	TexCal Acquisition	48
ARTICLE VIII NEGATIVE COVENANTS		49
8.1	Limitation on Liens	49
8.2	Disposition of Assets	50
8.3	Consolidations and Mergers	50
8.4	Loans and Investments	51
8.5	Limitation on Indebtedness	51
8.6	Transactions with Affiliates	52
8.7	Margin Stock	52
8.8	Contingent Obligations	52
8.9	Restricted Payments	52
8.10	Derivative Contracts	53

8.11	Sale Leasebacks	54
8.12	Consolidated Leverage Ratio	54
8.13	Current Ratio	54
8.14	Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio	54
8.15	Minimum PV 10 to Consolidated Total Debt Ratio	54
8.16	Change in Business	55
8.17	Accounting Changes	55
8.18	Certain Contracts; Amendments; Multiemployer ERISA Plans	55
8.19	Senior Notes	55
8.20	Limitation on Amendments to TexCal Acquisition Documents	56
8.21	First Lien Credit Documents	56
8.22	Forward Sales, Production Payments, Etc 67	56
8.23	Use of Proceeds	56
ARTICLE IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT		56
9.1	Event of Default	56
9.2	Remedies	59
9.3	Rights Not Exclusive	59
ARTICLE X THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT		59
10.1	Appointment and Authorization; Limitation of Agency	59
10.2	Delegation of Duties	60
10.3	Liability of Administrative Agent	60
10.4	Reliance by Administrative Agent	60
10.5	Notice of Default	61
10.6	Credit Decision	61
10.7	Indemnification	61
10.8	Administrative Agent in Individual Capacity	62
10.9	Successor Administrative Agent	62
10.10	Withholding Tax	61
10.11	Arrangers; Syndication Agents	63
10.12	Release of Collateral	63
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS		64
11.1	Amendments and Waivers	64
11.2	Notices	64
11.3	No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies	65
11.4	Costs and Expenses	65
11.5	Indemnity	65
11.6	Payments Set Aside	66
11.7	Successors and Assigns	66
11.8	Assignments, Participations, etc	66
11.9	Interest	70
11.10	Indemnity and Subrogation	71
11.11	Automatic Debits of Fees	71
11.12	Notification of Addresses, Lending Offices, Etc	71
11.13	Counterparts	71
11.14	Severability	71
11.15	No Third Parties Benefited	71
11.16	Governing Law, Jurisdiction	72
11.17	Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers	72

iii

11.18	Entire Agreement	72
11.19	NO ORAL AGREEMENTS	72
11.20	Accounting Changes	72
11.21	WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ETC	73
11.22	Intercreditor Agreement; Collateral Trust Agreement	73
11.23	USA PATRIOT Act	73
11.24	Acknowledgments	73
11.25	Survival of Representations and Warranties	73
11.26	Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations	74

SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.1(a)		Commitments and Pro Rata Shares
Schedule 1.1(b)		TexCal Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.5		Litigation
Schedule 6.7		ERISA Compliance
Schedule 6.14(a)		Material Indebtedness
Schedule 6.15		Environmental Matters
Schedule 6.17		Burdensome Restrictions
Schedule 6.19		Subsidiaries and Minority Interests
Schedule 6.24		Downstream Contracts
Schedule 6.25		Existing Derivative Contracts
Schedule 6.29		Material TexCal Acquisition Documents
Schedule 6.30(a)-1		Security Agreement UCC Filing Jurisdictions
Schedule 6.30(a)-2		UCC Financing Statements to Remain on File
Schedule 6.30(a)-3		UCC Financing Statements to be Terminated
Schedule 6.30(b)		Mortgage Filing Jurisdictions
Schedule 8.1		Permitted Liens
Schedule 8.2		TexCal Dispositions
Schedule 8.6		Transactions with Affiliates
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A		Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit B		Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit C		Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit D		Form of Security Agreement
Exhibit E		Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit F		Form of Note
Exhibit G		Form of Guaranty Agreement
Exhibit H		Form of Intercreditor Agreement
Exhibit I		Form of Collateral Trust Agreement
Exhibit J		Form of Prepayment Option Notice

TERM LOAN AGREEMENT

This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT is entered into as of March 30, 2006, among VENOCO, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"); BMC, LTD., a California limited partnership ("BMC"); and WHITTIER PIPELINE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Whittier"); each of the financial institutions which is or which may from time to time become a signatory hereto (individually, a "Lender" and collectively, the "Lenders"); CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent"); CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC and XXXXXX BROTHERS INC., as joint lead arrangers (in such capacities, collectively, the "Lead Arrangers"); XXXXXX XXXXXXX CORP., as co-arranger (together with the Lead Arrangers, the "Arrangers"); and XXXXXX BROTHERS INC., as syndication agent (in such capacity, the "Syndication Agent").

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company desires to enter into the TexCal Acquisition Documents (defined below), and to consummate the TexCal Acquisition (defined below) contemplated thereby, and, in connection therewith, has requested that the Lenders make term loans to the Company in an aggregate principal amount of $350,000,000; and

WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to make such term loans to the Company on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Certain Defined Terms. The following terms have the following meanings:

"Acquisition" means any transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of any business or division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the capital stock of a corporation (or similar entity), which stock has ordinary voting power for the election of the members of such entity's board of directors or persons exercising similar functions (other than stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency), or the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the partnership interests or equity of any Person not a corporation which acquisition gives the acquiring Person the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person (other than a Person that is a Subsidiary) provided that the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company is the surviving entity.

"Adjusted Base Rate" shall mean, for any day and any Base Rate Loan, an interest rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus one-half of one percent (0.5%) and (b) the Base Rate for such day; such rate to be computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day) during the period for which payable, but in no event shall such rate at any time exceed the maximum rate of interest permitted by applicable law.

"Administrative Agent" has the meaning specified in the introductory clause hereto.

"Administrative Agent-Related Persons" means Administrative Agent, its Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates.

"Administrative Questionnaire" has the meaning specified in Section 11.8(a).

"Affected Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

"Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

"Agent-Related Persons" means with respect to each Agent, such Agent, its Affiliates, and each of the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of it and its Affiliates.

"Agents" means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Syndication Agent.

"Agent's Payment Office" means the address set forth on the signature pages hereto in relation to the Administrative Agent, or such other address as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify.

"Aggregate Exposure" means, with respect to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to (a) if at such time the Commitments have not been reduced to zero, the sum of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans of such Lender and the aggregate amount of such Lender's Commitments at such time and (b) if at such time the Commitments have been reduced to zero, the sum of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans of such Lender.

"Agreement" means this Term Loan Agreement, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof and of the Intercreditor Agreement.

"Applicable Margin" means, with respect to any Base Rate Loan or LIBO Rate Loan on any day, an amount equal to the percentage for such day under the Pricing Grid for such type of Loan.

"Applicable Percentage" means eighty percent (80%).

"Arrangers" has the meaning specified in the introductory clause hereto.

"Assignee" has the meaning specified in Section 11.8(a).

"Assignment and Acceptance" has the meaning specified in Section 11.8(a).

"Attorney Costs" means and includes all reasonable fees and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel, the allocated cost of reasonable internal legal services and all disbursements of internal counsel.

"Audited Financial Statements" means the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, together with the unqualified independent auditors' report and opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP thereon, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

"Available Borrowing Base" means, at the particular time in question, the Borrowing Base (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement) in effect at such time minus the applicable Effective Amount (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement) at such time.

"Bankruptcy Code" means the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11 U.S.C. §101, et seq.).

"Base Rate" means, for any day, the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Administrative Agent at its New York, New York office as its "base rate" for Dollar loans made in the United States. (The "base rate" is a rate set by Administrative Agent based

upon various factors including costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.) Any change in the base rate announced by Administrative Agent shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

"Base Rate Loan" means a Loan that bears interest based at the Adjusted Base Rate, plus the Applicable Margin.

"BMC" means BMC, Ltd., a California limited partnership comprised of the Company, as General Partner, and Whittier, as Limited Partner.

"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any LIBO Rate Loan, means such a day on which dealings are carried on in the applicable offshore dollar interbank market.

"Capital Adequacy Regulation" means any guideline, request or directive of any central bank or other Governmental Authority, or any other law, rule or regulation, whether or not having the force of law, in each case, regarding capital adequacy of any bank or of any corporation controlling a bank.

"Capital Lease" means, when used with respect to any Person, any lease in respect of which the obligations of such Person constitute Capitalized Lease Obligations.

"Capital Stock" means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

"Capitalized Lease Obligations" means, when used with respect to any Person, without duplication, all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) Property, or a combination thereof, which obligations shall have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, capitalized on the books of such Person.

"Carpinteria Bluffs Dividend" has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(i).

"Cash Collateral" means the "Cash Collateral" as defined in the Cash Collateral Agreement (as in effect on the Effective Date).

"Cash Collateral Agreement" means the Cash Collateral Agreement dated as of the Effective Date by and between the Company and the Collateral Trustee, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

"Cash Dividends" means with respect to the Company, at any time, the distribution of earnings in Dollars to shareholders of the Company, determined in conformity with GAAP.

"Cash Equivalents" means: (a) securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States Government or any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States having maturities of not more than twelve (12) months from the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, Eurodollar time deposits, or bankers' acceptances having in each case a tenor of not more than twelve (12) months from the date of acquisition issued by and demand deposits with any U.S. commercial bank or any branch or agency of a non-U.S. commercial bank licensed to conduct business in the U.S. having combined capital and surplus of not less than Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000) whose long term securities are rated at least A (or then equivalent grade) by S&P and A2 (or then equivalent grade) by Xxxxx'x at the time of acquisition; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-1 by S&P or P-1 by Xxxxx'x at the time of acquisition, and in either case having a tenor of not more than twelve (12) months; (d) repurchase agreements with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (a) and (b) above; and (e) money market mutual or similar funds having assets in excess of $100,000,000.

"Change of Control" means (a) a purchase or acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any "person" or "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (a "Group"), other than a Permitted Holder, of "beneficial ownership" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company which, together with any securities owned beneficially by any "affiliates" or "associates" of such Group (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act), shall represent more than fifty percent (50%) (or after a Qualifying IPO, thirty percent (30%)) of the combined voting power of the Company's securities which are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and which are outstanding on the date immediately prior to the date of such purchase or acquisition; (b) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person or Group; (c) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or (d) the first day on which a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors (as herein defined). As herein defined, "Continuing Directors" means any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who (x) is a member of such Board of Directors as of the Effective Date or (y) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

"Collateral" means all Property which is subject to a Lien in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or which under the terms of any Security Document is purported to be subject to such Lien.

"Collateral Trust Agreement" means that certain Collateral Trust Agreement dated as of the Effective Date by and among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee in the form of "Exhibit I" hereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof.

"Collateral Trustee" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Trust Agreement.

"Commitment" means as to each Lender, such Lender's obligation to make, on the Effective Date, Loans to the Company hereunder in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading "Commitment" opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 1.1(a) hereto, or if such Lender is a party to an Assignment and Acceptance, the amount set forth on the most recent Assignment and Acceptance of such Lender, as that amount may be reduced or terminated pursuant to this Agreement.

"Commitment Letter" means the commitment letter dated March 30, 2006 by and among the Company, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Corp., Bank of Montreal, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, Xxxxxx Commercial Paper Inc. and Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.

"Company" means Venoco, Inc. a Delaware corporation.

"Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit "C".

"Consolidated EBITDA" means with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any fiscal period, without duplication, (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) depreciation, depletion, amortization, adjustments resulting from the application of FAS 123R and other non-cash items reducing Consolidated Net Income plus (c) Consolidated Interest Expense plus (d) income tax expense minus (e) any non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income, all determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of Sections 8.12 and 8.14, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated to give pro forma effect to the TexCal Acquisition and other acquisitions and Dispositions as if such acquisition(s) or Disposition(s) had been consummated on the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the relevant date of calculation.

"Consolidated Interest Expense" means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any fiscal period, total interest expenses (including that portion attributable to Capitalized Lease Obligations and capitalized interest) of the Company and its Subsidiaries in such fiscal period which are classified as interest expense on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all as determined in conformity with GAAP. Consolidated Interest Expense shall be calculated to give pro forma effect to the financing of the TexCal Acquisition or other financing transactions as if such financing had been consummated on the first day of the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the relevant date of calculation.

"Consolidated Leverage Ratio" means as at the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company, commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2006 as the last quarter in the initial period of four consecutive fiscal quarters contemplated hereby, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

"Consolidated Liabilities" means, when used with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, all items which are or should be classified as liabilities on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all determined in conformity with GAAP.

"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, for any fiscal period, the net income (or net loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding the effects of the application of FAS 133 and 143 and any expensing of capitalized costs required by Rule 4-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC as applied to reporting entities employing the full cost method.

"Consolidated Total Debt" means, at any date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

"Contingent Obligation" means, as to any Person without duplication, any direct or indirect liability of that Person with or without recourse, (a) with respect to any Indebtedness, dividend, letter of credit or other similar obligation (the "primary obligations") of another Person (the "primary obligor"), including any obligation of that Person (i) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such primary obligations or any security therefor, (ii) to advance or provide funds for the payment or discharge of any such primary obligation, or to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase Property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation, or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof (each, a "Guaranty Obligation"); (b) with respect to any Surety Instrument issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings or payments; (c) to purchase any materials, supplies or other Property from, or to obtain the services of, another Person if the relevant contract or other related document or obligation requires that payment for such materials, supplies or other Property, or for such services, shall be made regardless of whether delivery of such materials, supplies or other Property is ever made or tendered, or such services are ever performed or tendered, or (d) in respect of any Derivative Contract. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall, in the case of Guaranty Obligations, be deemed equal to the lesser of (i) the stated maximum amount, if any, of such Contingent Obligation and (ii) the maximum stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made or, if not stated or if indeterminable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof, and in the case of other Contingent Obligations, shall be equal to the lesser of (i) the stated maximum amount, if any, of such Contingent Obligation and (ii) the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof.

"Contractual Obligation" means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, undertaking, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument, document or agreement to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its Property is bound.

"Conversion/Continuation Date" means any date on which, under Section 2.3, the Company (a) converts Loans of one Interest Rate Type to another Interest Rate Type, or (b) continues as Loans of the same Interest Rate Type, but with a new Interest Period, Loans having Interest Periods expiring on such date.

"Credit Extension" means and includes the making, conversion or continuation of any Loan hereunder.

"Current Assets" means, for any Person, all assets of such Person that, in accordance with GAAP, would be included as current assets on a balance sheet as of a date of calculation; provided, however, an amount equal to the Available Borrowing Base (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement) shall be included as current assets.

"Current Liabilities" means, for any Person, all liabilities of such Person that, in accordance with GAAP, would be included as current liabilities on a balance sheet as of the date of calculation; provided, however, the current portion of the Loans which are not past due may be excluded from Current Liabilities.

"Declined Proceeds" has the meaning specified in Section 2.10(e).

"Default" means any event or circumstance which, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, would (if not cured or otherwise remedied during such time) constitute an Event of Default.

"Default Rate" has the meaning specified in Section 2.7(c).

"Derivative Contract" means all futures contracts, forward contracts, swap, put, cap or collar contracts, option contracts, hedging contracts or other derivative contracts or similar agreements covering oil and gas commodities or prices or financial, monetary or interest rate instruments.

"Disposition" has the meaning specified in Section 8.2.

"Disqualified Stock" means, as to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or otherwise (including upon the occurrence of an event) requires the payment of dividends (other than dividends payable solely in Capital Stock which does not otherwise constitute Disqualified Stock) or matures or is required to be redeemed (pursuant to any sinking fund obligation or otherwise) or is convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, at any time on or prior to the date six (6) months after the Maturity Date.

"Dollars", "dollars" and "$" each mean lawful money of the United States.

"Effective Amount" means on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans after giving effect to any prepayments or repayments of such Loans occurring on such date.

"Effective Date" means the date on which the Effective Time occurs.

"Effective Time" means the time as of which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.1 are satisfied or waived by all Lenders.

"Ellwood" means Ellwood Pipeline, Inc., a California corporation and a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company.

"Environmental Claims" means all material claims by any Governmental Authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law, or for release or injury to the environment.

"Environmental Laws" means all federal, state or local laws, statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all administrative orders, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authorities, in each case relating to environmental, health, and safety matters.

"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

"ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

"ERISA Event" means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations which is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate (other than pursuant to Section 4041(b) of ERISA), the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041(c) or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.

"Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" has the meaning specified in the definition of "LIBO Rate".

"Event of Default" means any of the events or circumstances specified in Section 9.1.

"Exchange Act" means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

"Existing Derivative Contracts" means the contracts listed on Schedule 6.25 hereto.

"Existing TexCal Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement among TexCal Energy, the TexCal Subsidiaries and Amegy Bank National Association (f/k/a Southwest Bank of Texas, N.A.) as Administrative Agent and Letter of Credit Issuer and the lenders signatory thereto dated October 21, 2004, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified to the Effective Date.

"FAS 123R" means Financial Accounting Statement 123R promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

"FAS 133" means Financial Accounting Statement 133 promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

"FAS 143" means Financial Accounting Statement 143 promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

"FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate set forth in the weekly statistical release designated as H.15(519), or any successor publication, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (including any such successor, "H.15(519)") on the preceding Business Day opposite the caption "Federal Funds (Effective)"; or, if for any relevant day such rate is not so published on any such preceding Business Day, the rate for such day will be the arithmetic mean as determined by the Administrative Agent of the rates for the last transaction in overnight Federal funds arranged prior to 9:00 a.m. (New York, New York time) on that day by each of three leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New York, New York selected by the Administrative Agent.

"Fee Letter Agreement" means the letter agreement dated March 30, 2006 among Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Corp., Bank of Montreal, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Xxxxxx Commercial Paper Inc., Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. and Venoco, Inc.

"First Lien Commitments" means the aggregate "Commitments" (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement).

"First Lien Credit Agent" means the Administrative Agent (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement).

"First Lien Credit Agreement" means the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among the Loan Parties, the First Lien Credit Agent, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Corp., as lead arranger, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Xxxxxx Brothers Inc., as co-arrangers, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, and Xxxxxx Commercial Paper Inc., as co-syndication agents and co-documentation agents, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto dated as of the Effective Date, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms hereof.

"First Lien Credit Documents" means the "First Lien Loan Documents" (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement).

"First Lien Credit Lenders" means the "Lenders" (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement).

"First Lien Loans" means the loans to be made from time to time under and in accordance with the First Lien Credit Documents.

"First Lien Maximum Loan Amount" means "Maximum Loan Amount" (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement).

"First Lien Obligations" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Intercreditor Agreement.

"First Lien Secured Parties" means the "Secured Parties" (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement).

"First Liens" has the meaning specified in Section 7.14(b).

"Fiscal Quarter" means each of the three-month periods coinciding with the fiscal quarters adopted by the Company for financial reporting purposes.

"FRB" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from time to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting profession), which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination.

"Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising

executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

"Granting Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 11.8(d).

"Guarantor" means (i) each of the Original Guarantors, (ii) from and after the TexCal Closing Time, each of the TexCal Subsidiaries upon the execution and delivery by such TexCal Subsidiary of the Guaranty, and (iii) any new Subsidiary of the Company which is required to execute the Guaranty under Section 7.12 upon the execution and delivery by such entity of the Guaranty.

"Guaranty" means the Second Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit "G"hereto executed by each Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lender Parties, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (including, in the case of any Subsidiary required to execute the Guaranty pursuant to Section 7.12, by execution and delivery of a joinder thereto in the form of Annex 1 thereto).

"Guaranty Obligation" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Contingent Obligation."

"Highest Lawful Rate" means, as of a particular date, the maximum nonusurious interest rate that under applicable federal and state law may then be contracted for, charged or received by the Lenders in connection with the Obligations.

"Hydrocarbon Interests" means leasehold and other interests in or under oil, gas and other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon leases, mineral fee interests, overriding royalty and royalty interests, net profit interests, production payment interests relating to oil, gas or other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons wherever located including any reserved or residual interest of whatever nature, covering lands in or offshore the continental United States.

"Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business on ordinary terms and not past due for more than 90 days after the due date thereof, other than those trade payables disputed in good faith); (c) all non-contingent reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to Surety Instruments; (d) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of Property, assets or businesses; (e) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to Property acquired by the Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such Property) including, without limitation, production payments, net profit interests and other Hydrocarbon Interests subject to repayment out of future Oil and Gas production; (f) all obligations with respect to Capital Leases; (g) all non-contingent net obligations with respect to Derivative Contracts; (h) gas imbalances or obligations under take-or-pay or prepayment contracts with respect to any of the Oil and Gas Properties which would require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to deliver Oil and Gas from any of the Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor; (i) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien upon or in Property (including accounts and contracts rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness; and (j) all Guaranty Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above.

"Indemnified Liabilities" has the meaning specified in Section 11.5.

"Indemnified Person" has the meaning specified in Section 11.5.

"Indenture Trustee" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

"Independent Auditor" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1(a).

"Independent Engineer" has the meaning specified in Section 7.2(c).

"Initial Reserve Report" has the meaning specified in Section 6.11.

"Insolvency Proceeding" means (a) any case, action or proceeding relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, dissolution, winding-up or relief of debtors, or (b) any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, marshaling of assets for creditors, or other, similar arrangement in respect of its creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors; undertaken under U.S. Federal, state or foreign law, including the Bankruptcy Code.

"Intercreditor Agreement" means that certain Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the Effective Date among the Loan Parties, the First Lien Credit Agent and the Collateral Trustee in the form of Exhibit "H" hereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof.

"Interest Payment Date" (a) as to any Base Rate Loan, means May 1, 2006 and the first day of each month thereafter prior to the Termination Date and each date on which such a Base Rate Loan is converted into another Interest Rate Type of Loan, and (b) as to any LIBO Rate Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for an LIBO Rate Loan exceeds three months, the date that falls three months after the beginning of such Interest Period is also an Interest Payment Date.

"Interest Period" means, as to any LIBO Rate Loan, the period commencing on the Effective Date or on the Conversion/Continuation Date on which such Loan is converted into or continued as LIBO Rate Loan, and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter as selected by the Company in its Notice of Conversion/Continuation; provided, however, that: (a) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, that Interest Period shall be extended to the following Business Day unless, in the case of an LIBO Rate Loan, the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month, in which event such Interest Period shall end on the preceding Business Day; (b) any Interest Period pertaining to an LIBO Rate Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and (c) no Interest Period for any Loan shall extend beyond the Termination Date.

"Interest Rate Type" means, with respect to any Loan, the interest rate, being either the Base Rate or the LIBO Rate forming the basis upon which interest is charged against such Loan hereunder.

"IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service, and any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under the Code.

"Lender Parties" means (i) the Lenders, (ii) the Administrative Agent and (iii) the holders from time to time of the Obligations.

"Lenders" has the meaning specified in the introductory clause hereto.

"Lending Office" means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender specified as its "Lending Office" or "Domestic Lending Office" or "Offshore Lending Office," as the case may be, on the signature pages hereof, or such other office or offices as such Lender may from time to time notify the Company and the Administrative Agent.

"Letter of Credit" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the First Lien Credit Agreement.

"LIBO Rate" means, for any Interest Period, with respect to LIBO Rate Loans, the rate of interest per annum (rounded upward to the next 1/16th of 1%) determined by the Administrative Agent as follows:

LIBO Rate	=	LIBOR

		1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage
where,		*"Eurodollar Reserve Percentage"* means for any day for any Interest Period the maximum reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded upward to the next 1/100th of 1%)in effect on such day (whether or not applicable to any Lender) under regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency liabilities"); and

"LIBOR" means relative to any Interest Period for LIBO Rate Loans:

(a) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate that appears on the page, currently page 3750, of the Telerate screen (or any successor thereto or substitute therefor) that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or

(b) if the rate referenced in the preceding clause (a) does not appear on such page or service or such page or service shall not be available, the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or

(c) if the rates referenced in the preceding clauses (a) and (b) are not available, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the rate of interest at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the LIBO Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Credit Suisse and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Credit Suisse's London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 4:00 p.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

The LIBO Rate shall be adjusted automatically as to all LIBO Rate Loans then outstanding as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

"LIBO Rate Loan" means a Loan that bears interest based on the LIBO Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

"Lien" means any security interest, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, charge or deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other) or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever in respect of any Property (including those created by, arising under or evidenced by any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and the interest of a lessor under a Capital Lease), any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, or the filing of any financing statement naming the owner of the asset to which such lien relates as debtor, under the Uniform Commercial Code or any comparable law and any contingent or other agreement to provide any of the foregoing, but not including (a) the interest of a lessor under a lease on Oil and Gas Properties or (b) the interest of a lessor under an Operating Lease.

"Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, each Guaranty, the Security Documents, any Qualifying Derivative Contracts, the Fee Letter Agreement, the Commitment Letter, the Cash Collateral Agreement and all other documents delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection herewith.

"Loans" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(a).

"Loan Parties" means the Company and each Guarantor.

"Mandatory Prepayment Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 2.10(e).

"Margin Stock" means "margin stock" as such term is defined in Regulation T, U or X of the FRB.

"Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, (i) the TexCal Acquisition or (ii) the operations, business, properties or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Company or any Subsidiary to perform under any material Loan Document and to avoid any Default; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Company or any Subsidiary of any material Loan Document.

"Maturity Date" means the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date.

"Moody's" means Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.

"Mortgages" means the Mortgages, Deeds of Trust, Security Agreements, Assignments of Production and Financing Statements from the Company and BMC, and, from and after the Effective Time, the TexCal Subsidiaries, in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, covering the Oil and Gas Properties of the Company and the Guarantors and all supplements, assignments, assumptions, amendments and restatements thereto (or any agreement in substitution therefor) which are executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent for benefit of the Lenders pursuant to Article IV of this Agreement.

"Mortgaged Properties" means such Oil and Gas Properties upon which the Company and the Guarantors have granted the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties a valid, second Lien pursuant to the Mortgages, subject to Permitted Liens.

"Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan", within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions or, during the preceding three calendar years, has made, or been obligated to make, contributions.

"Net Cash Proceeds" means (a) in connection with any Disposition or any Recovery Event, all proceeds thereof in the form of cash and Cash Equivalents of such Disposition or Recovery Event, net of (i) amounts required by the First Lien Credit Agreement to be applied to the repayment of the First Lien Obligations or the cash collateralization of outstanding Letters of Credit, (ii) reasonable and customary Attorney Costs, accountants' fees and investment banking fees, (iii) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien expressly permitted hereunder on any Property which is the subject of such Disposition or Recovery Event, (iv) other reasonable and customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith and (v) taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and (b) in connection with any issuance or sale of equity securities or debt securities or instruments or the incurrence of loans, the cash proceeds received from such issuance or incurrence (other than the exercise price of stock options issued for compensatory purposes), net of (i) amounts required by Section 2.6(f) of the First Lien Credit Agreement to be applied to the repayment of the First Lien Obligations or the cash collateralization of outstanding Letters of Credit, (ii) Attorney Costs, investment banking fees, accountants' fees and underwriting

discounts and commissions and (iii) other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith.

"Net Present Value" means the PV 10 Value of the Oil and Gas Properties and adjusted at the date of determination on the same basis as the most recent Reserve Report previously delivered pursuant to Section 6.11 or Section 7.2(c) for Dispositions and purchases of Hydrocarbon Interests occurring since the date of such report. The Net Present Value shall be calculated by the Company as of each date of determination.

"Net Proceeds of Production" means the amounts attributable to the Company's and its Subsidiaries' interest in the proceeds received from the sale of Oil and Gas produced from Mortgaged Properties after deduction of (a) royalties existing as of the effective date on which the Company or its Subsidiaries first mortgaged its interests in such Mortgaged Properties in favor of the Lenders or their predecessors; (b) third party pipeline and transportation charges; (c) production, ad valorem and severance taxes chargeable against such production; (d) marketing costs; (e) overriding royalties existing as of the effective date on which the Company or its Subsidiaries first mortgaged its interests in such Mortgaged Properties in favor of the Lenders or their predecessors; (f) other interests in and measured by production burdening the Mortgaged Properties existing as of the effective date on which the Company or its Subsidiaries first mortgaged its interests in such Mortgaged Properties in favor of the Lenders or their predecessors; and (g) the current portion of direct operating or production costs which is allocable to such interest in such Mortgaged Properties.

"Non-U.S. Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 3.1(f).

"Notes" means the promissory notes, whether one or more, specified in Section 2.1(c), substantially in the same form as Exhibit "F", including any amendments, modifications, renewals or replacements of such promissory notes.

"Notice of Conversion/Continuation" means a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit "B".

"NYMEX" means the New York Mercantile Exchange.

"Obligations" means the unpaid principal of and interest (including interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided herein after the maturity of the Loans and interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided herein after the filing of any petition for an Insolvency Proceeding, or the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) on the Loans and all other advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties arising under any Loan Document owing by the Company to any Lender, the Administrative Agent, any Qualifying Derivative Contract Counterparty or any Indemnified Person, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) or otherwise.

"Oil and Gas" means petroleum, natural gas and other related hydrocarbons or minerals or any of them and all other substances produced or extracted in association therewith.

"Oil and Gas Liens" means (a) Liens arising under oil and gas leases, overriding royalty agreements, net profits agreements, royalty trust agreements, farm-out agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, transportation, gathering or processing of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, operating agreements, production sales contracts, area of mutual interest agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, and other agreements that are customary in the oil and gas business and are entered into by the Company in the

ordinary course of business; provided, however, in all instances that such Liens are limited to the assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement; and (b) Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law.

"Oil and Gas Properties" means Hydrocarbon Interests now or hereafter owned by the Company and the Guarantors and contracts executed in connection therewith and all tenements, hereditaments, appurtenances, and properties belonging, affixed or incidental to such Hydrocarbon Interests, including, without limitation, any and all Property, now owned by the Company and the Guarantors and situated upon or to be situated upon, and used, built for use, or useful in connection with the operating, working or developing of such Hydrocarbon Interests, including, without limitation, any and all petroleum or natural gas xxxxx, buildings, structures, field separators, liquid extractors, plant compressors, pumps, pumping units, field gathering systems, tank and tank batteries, fixtures, valves, fittings, machinery and parts, engines, boilers, apparatus, equipment, appliances, tools, implements, cables, wires, towers, taping, tubing and rods, surface leases, rights of way, easements and servitudes, and all additions, substitutions, replacements for, fixtures and attachments to any and all of the foregoing owned directly or indirectly by the Company and the Guarantors.

"Operating Agreements" mean those agreements now or hereafter executed in connection with the operation of the Oil and Gas Properties.

"Operating Lease" means an operating lease determined in accordance with GAAP.

"Organization Documents" means, for any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation, the bylaws, any certificate of determination or instrument relating to the rights of preferred shareholders of such corporation, any shareholder rights agreement, and all applicable resolutions of the board of directors (or any committee thereof) of such corporation and for any limited liability company means the limited liability company agreement, initial resolution of members and all other documents filings and instruments necessary to create and constitute such company, or for any limited partnership means the original agreement of limited partnership as same has been amended from time to time.

"Original Guarantor" means BMC or Whittier.

"Originating Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 11.8(f).

"Other Taxes" means any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or Property Taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Documents.

"Participant" has the meaning specified in Section 11.8(f).

"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions under ERISA.

"Pension Plan" means a pension plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries sponsors, maintains, or to which it makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of a multiple employer plan (as described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA) has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years.

"Permitted Holder" means Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, individually or as Trustees of the Xxxxxxx Trust dated February 26, 2002 (a trust of which Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx have sole discretionary authority), and any entity of which any such Person owns, directly or indirectly, and exercises voting power with respect to, 80% or more of the capital stock, partnership or membership interests or other ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of (a) the board of directors of such entity, if such entity is a corporation, (b) the board of directors of its general partner, if such entity is a limited partnership or (c) the board or committee of such entity serving a function comparable to that to the board of directors of a corporation, if such entity is neither a corporation nor limited partnership.

"Permitted Indebtedness" has the meaning specified in Section 8.5.

"Permitted Liens" means the collective reference to (i) in the case of Collateral other than Pledged Stock, Liens permitted by Section 8.1 and (ii) in the case of Collateral consisting of Pledged Stock, (A) Liens permitted by Sections 8.1(b) and (j) and (B) non-consensual Liens permitted by Section 8.1 to the extent arising by operation of law.

"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or Governmental Authority.

"Plan" means an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is subject to ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan.

"Pledged Stock" means "Pledged Stock" as such term is defined in the Security Agreement.

"Premium" has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(b).

"Pricing Grid" means the annualized rates (stated in terms of basis points ("bps")) set forth below which shall be computed as of each day during the term hereof for the Applicable Margin as follows:

		Applicable Margin
Pricing Level	Criteria	Base Rate Loan (bps)	LIBO Rate Loan (bps)
Level II	• Pre-Qualifying IPO or	400 bps	500 bps
	• Consolidated Leverage Ratio equal to or greater than 3.00 to 1.00
Level I	• Post- Qualifying IPO and	350 bps	450 bps
	• Consolidated Leverage Ratio less than 3.00 to 1.00

"Principal Business" means the business of the exploration for, and development, acquisition, production, and upstream marketing and transportation of Oil and Gas.

"Pro Forma Financial Statements" has the meaning specified in Section 6.14(b).

"Pro Rata Share" means, as to any Lender at any time, the percentage equivalent (expressed as a decimal, rounded to the ninth decimal place) at such time of such Lender's Aggregate Exposure divided by the combined Aggregate Exposure of all Lenders.

"Production Sales Contracts" mean those agreements now or hereafter executed in connection with the sale of Oil and Gas attributable to the Oil and Gas Properties.

"Projected Oil and Gas Production" has the meaning specified in Section 7.15.

"Property" means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible.

"Proved Developed Producing Reserves" means those Oil and Gas Properties designated as proved developed producing (in accordance with the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves approved by the Board of Directors of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Inc. from time to time) in the Reserve Report.

"Proved Reserves" means those Oil and Gas Properties designated as proved (in accordance with the Definitions for Oil and Gas Reserves approved by the Board of Directors of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Inc. from time to time) in the Reserve Report.

"PV 10 Value" means, as of any date of determination, the present value of future cash flows from Proved Reserves included in the Oil and Gas Properties as set forth in the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section 6.11 or 7.2(c), utilizing the average of the Three-Year Strip Price for crude oil (WTI Xxxxxxx) and natural gas (Xxxxx Hub), quoted on the New York Mercantile Exchange (or its successor) and utilizing a 10% discount rate. The PV-10 Value shall be adjusted to give effect to the Company's and its Subsidiaries' Derivative Contracts for the purpose of hedging prices of Oil and Gas. The PV 10 Value shall be calculated by the Company as of each date of determination.

"Qualifying Derivative Contract" means any Derivative Contract between any Loan Party and any Qualifying Derivative Contract Counterparty.

"Qualifying Derivative Contract Counterparty" means, with respect to a Qualifying Derivative Contract, any Person that was a Lender or an Affiliate thereof at the time such Qualifying Derivative Contract was originally entered into.

"Qualifying IPO" means the initial firm commitment underwritten offering of Capital Stock of the Company that is not Disqualified Stock to the general public that is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and pursuant to which the Company receives Net Cash Proceeds of at least $200,000,000.

"Quarterly Status Report" means a status report prepared quarterly by the Company in form, scope and content acceptable to the Administrative Agent for such quarter then ended (a) detailing production from the Mortgaged Properties, the volumes of Oil and Gas produced and saved, the volumes of Oil and Gas sold, gross revenue, net income, related leasehold operating expenses, severance taxes, other taxes, capital costs and any production imbalances incurred during such period, (b) describing the Company's position regarding its Derivative Contracts including, as of the last Business Day of such quarter, a summary of its hedging positions under its Derivative Contracts, including the type, term, price, effective date and notional principal amount or volumes (in total and as a percentage of the Company's total anticipated production), "xxxx to market" and margin calculations, the hedged price(s), interest rate(s) or exchange rate(s), as applicable, and any collateral therefor and credit support agreements relating thereto and the counterparty to each Derivative Contract, (c) containing a table that demonstrates the Company's compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 8.10 and (d) containing such additional information with respect to any of Company's Oil and Gas Properties as may be reasonably requested by Administrative Agent.

"Real Estate Contingent Obligations" means the Contingent Obligations of the Company under the Guaranty and Indemnity (Third Party-Unsecured) and the Environmental Indemnity Agreement (Third Party-Unsecured), each dated December 8, 2004 and made in favor of German American Capital Corporation and as in effect at the Effective Time.

"Recovery Event" means any settlement of or payment in respect of any Property of the Company or any Subsidiary arising from a casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding.

"Register" means a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitments thereof, and the principal amount of the Loans owing to such Lender from time to time.

"Regulation U" and "Regulation X" means Regulation U and Regulation X, respectively, of the FRB from time to time in effect and shall include any successor or other regulations or official interpretations of the FRB relating to the subject matter addressed therein.

"Related Funds" has the meaning specified in Section 11.8(a).

"Replacement Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

"Reportable Event" means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder, other than any such event for which the 30-day notice requirement under ERISA has been waived in regulations issued by the PBGC.

"Required Lenders" means, at any time, subject to Section 11.1, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders holding at least 50% of the sum of the Effective Amount at such time or, if there is no Effective Amount at such time, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders holding at least 50% of the aggregate Commitments at such time.

"Requirement of Law" means, as to any Person, any law (statutory or common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon the Person or any of its Property or to which the Person or any of its Property is subject.

"Reserve Report" means (i) the Initial Reserve Report, (ii) the TexCal Reserve Report and (iii) each subsequent report delivered pursuant to Section 7.2(c), each of which shall be a report, in form, scope and content acceptable to the Administrative Agent, covering proved developed and proved undeveloped reserves attributable to the Company's and its Subsidiaries' Oil and Gas Properties and setting forth with respect thereto, (a) the total quantity of proved developed and proved undeveloped Oil and Gas reserves (separately classified as to producing, shut in, behind pipe, and undeveloped), (b) the estimated future net revenues and cumulative estimated future net revenues, (c) the present discounted value of future net revenues, and (d) such other information and data with respect to the Mortgaged Properties as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer or treasurer of the Person.

"Restricted Payments" has the meaning specified in Section 8.9.

"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Rating Services.

"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

"Secured Parties" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Security Agreement.

"Security Agreement" means the Security Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit "D" executed by the Company and each Guarantor pledging to the Collateral Trustee for benefit of the Secured Parties all of the Property of the Company and each Guarantor, as security for the payment of the Sharing Obligations, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (including, in the case of any Subsidiary required to execute the Security Agreement pursuant to Section 7.12, by execution and delivery of a joinder thereto in the form of Annex 2 thereto).

"Security Documents" means the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Mortgages, the Security Agreement, and related financing statements as same may be amended from time to time and any and all other instruments now or hereafter executed in connection with or as security for the payment of the Sharing Obligations.

"Senior Note Debt Documents" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

"Senior Note Debt Instrument" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Collateral Trust Agreement.

"Senior Note Lien Termination Time" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

"Senior Note Subsidiary Guarantees" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

"Senior Notes" means the 8.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2011 originally issued in aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000 under the Senior Notes Indenture.

"Senior Notes Indenture" means that certain indenture dated as of December 20, 2004 among the Company, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.

"Sharing Collateral" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Collateral Trust Agreement.

"Sharing Obligations" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Collateral Trust Agreement.

"Solvent" means, as to any Person at any time, that (a) the fair value of all of the Property of such Person is greater than the amount of such Person's liabilities (including disputed, contingent and unliquidated liabilities) as such value is established and liabilities evaluated for purposes of Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code; (b) the present fair salable value of all of the Property of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured; (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person's ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature; and (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person's Property would constitute unreasonably small capital.

"SPC" has the meaning specified in Section 11.8(d).

"Special Damages" has the meaning specified in Section 11.21.

"Subsidiary" of a Person means any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture or other business entity of which more than 50% of the voting stock or other equity interests (in the case of Persons other than corporations), is owned or controlled directly or indirectly, at the relevant time, by the Person, or one or more of the Subsidiaries of the Person, or a combination thereof. From and after the TexCal Closing Time, references herein to a "Subsidiary" of the Company shall include each of the TexCal Subsidiaries. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, references herein to a "Subsidiary" refer to a Subsidiary of the Company, except that for purposes of Article IV only, "Subsidiary" excludes Ellwood.

"Surety Instruments" means all letters of credit (including standby), banker's acceptances, bank guaranties, shipside bonds, surety bonds, performance bonds (including plugging and abandonment bonds) and similar instruments.

"Syndication Agent" has the meaning specified in the introductory clause hereto.

"Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings which arise from any payment made hereunder, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender and the Administrative Agent, such taxes (including income taxes or franchise taxes) as are imposed on or measured by each Lender's net income, gross receipts or capital by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, is organized or maintains a lending office or conducts

business (other than solely by reason of the transactions evidenced hereby or taking any action contemplated by the Loan Documents).

"Termination Date" means the earlier of (a) the Maturity Date or (b) the date on which all Obligations (other than those to Qualified Derivative Contract Counterparties in respect of Qualified Derivative Contracts) have been satisfied and all Commitments have terminated, in each case in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

"TexCal Acquisition" means the proposed acquisition by the Company of all of the outstanding Capital Stock in TexCal Energy pursuant to the TexCal Acquisition Agreement for an aggregate cash purchase price not to exceed $485,000,000 less certain amounts relating to TexCal Energy distributions to TexCal Energy members, TexCal Energy transaction fees and expenses and TexCal Energy employee bonuses.

"TexCal Acquisition Agreement" means the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated effective as of March 30, 2006 by and among TexCal Energy, the Company, and Bicycle Acquisition Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, as amended, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

"TexCal Acquisition Documents" means, collectively, the TexCal Acquisition Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, annexes and amendments thereto and all side letters and agreements affecting the terms thereof or entered into in connection therewith, in each case, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

"TexCal Audited Financial Statements" means (a) TexCal Energy's consolidated financial statements for the period from inception (October 1, 2004) to December 31, 2005 and for the year ended December 31, 2005 and (b) TexCal Energy's consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2004 together with the statements of operations, cash flows and members' equity of TexCal Energy for the three months then ended, in each case together with the unqualified independent auditors' report and opinion of BDO Xxxxxxx, LLP thereon.

"TexCal Closing Time" means the "Acquisition Funding Release Time" (as defined in the Cash Collateral Agreement).

"TexCal Energy" means TexCal Energy (LP) LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

"TexCal Reserve Report" has the meaning specified in Section 6.11.

"TexCal Subsidiaries" means TexCal Energy and each of the entities specified on Schedule 1.1(b) hereto.

"Three-Year Strip Price" shall mean, as of any date of determination, (a) for the 36-month period commencing with the month immediately following the month in which the date of determination occurs, the monthly futures contract prices for crude oil and natural gas for the 36 succeeding months as quoted on the applicable commodities exchange as contemplated in the definition of "PV-10 Value" and (b) for periods after such 36-month period, the average of such quoted prices for the period from and including the 25th month in such 36-month period through the 36th month in such period.

"Transaction Documents" means, collectively, the Loan Documents and the TexCal Acquisition Documents.

"Triggering Event" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Collateral Trust Agreement.

"Trust Estate" has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Collateral Trust Agreement.

"UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted and in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.

"Unfunded Pension Liability" means the excess of a Plan's benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Plan's assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

"United States" and "U.S." each means the United States of America.

"Ventura Dividend" has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(i).

"Whittier" means Whittier Pipeline Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions. The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms. Unless otherwise specified or the context clearly requires otherwise, the words "hereof", "herein", "hereunder" and similar words refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and subsection, Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement. The term "documents" includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, indentures, notices and other writings, however evidenced. The term "including" is not limiting and means "including without limitation." The term "or" has, except where otherwise indicated, the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase "and/or". In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including"; the words "to" and "until" each mean "to but excluding", and the word "through" means "to and including." Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of any Loan Document, and (b) references to any statute or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting the statute or regulation. The recitals, captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement and other Loan Documents may use several different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and shall each be performed in accordance with their terms. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the result of negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to the Administrative Agent, the Company and the other parties, and are the products of all parties. Accordingly, they shall not be construed against the Lenders or the Administrative Agent merely because of the Administrative Agent's or Lenders' involvement in their preparation. The terms "Lender", "Administrative Agent", "First Lien Credit Agent" and "First Lien Credit Lenders" include their respective successors.

1.3 Accounting Principles.

(a) Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, all accounting terms not expressly defined herein shall be construed, and all financial computations required under this Agreement shall be made, in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied. References to "consolidated", when it precedes any accounting term, means such term as it would apply to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP.

(b) References herein to "fiscal year" and "fiscal quarter" refer to such fiscal periods of the Company.

ARTICLE II

THE CREDIT

2.1 Amounts and Terms of the Loans.

(a) Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, to make term loans to the Company on the Effective Date (together with any conversions or continuations thereof, "Loans"), so long as, as of the time at which the requested Loan is to be made and after giving effect thereto, (i) the aggregate amount of all Loans by such Lender at such time does not exceed such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amount of Loans of all Lenders at such time, and (ii) the aggregate amount of such Lender's Loans equals such Lender's Commitment. Principal amounts paid on account of the Loans may not be reborrowed.

(b) The Commitment of each Lender shall be permanently reduced on the date of funding of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.1(a) by the principal amount of the Loans funded. Such Commitment reductions shall be made for the account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(c) Provided the applicable conditions in Article V are met, each Lender will make the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the Loans available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Company at the Agent's Payment Office by 4:00 p.m. (New York, New York time) on the Effective Date in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent. The proceeds of all such Loans will then be made available to the Company by the Administrative Agent by wire or intrabank transfer of funds to the Collateral Account (as defined in the Cash Collateral Agreement) to be released in accordance with the provisions of the Cash Collateral Agreement.

(d) The Company agrees that upon the request to the Administrative Agent by any Lender, the Company will promptly execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note of the Company evidencing any Loans of such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit F (a "Note"), with appropriate insertions as to date and principal amount; provided, however, that delivery of Notes shall not be a condition precedent to the occurrence of the Effective Date or the making of the Loans on the Effective Date. The amount of principal owing on any Lender's Note, if any, at any given time shall be the aggregate amount of all Loans theretofore made by such Lender minus all payments of principal theretofore received by such Lender on such Note. Interest on each Note shall accrue and be due and payable as provided herein and therein.

2.2 Maturity Date. The Loans of each Lender shall mature on the Maturity Date.

2.3 Conversion and Continuation Elections.

(a) Prior to the Termination Date, the Company may, upon irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.3(b) (i) elect, as of any Business Day in the case of Base Rate Loans, or as of the last day of the applicable Interest Period in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, to convert any such Loans into Loans of any other Interest Rate Type; or (ii) elect as of the last day of the applicable Interest Period, to continue any Loans having Interest Periods expiring on such day; provided, however, that if at any time an LIBO Rate Loan is reduced, by payment, prepayment, or conversion of part thereof to less than $1,000,000, such LIBO Rate Loan shall automatically convert into a Base Rate Loan.

(b) The Company shall deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation to be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m. (New York, New York time) at least three Business Days in advance of the Conversion/Continuation Date, if the Loans are to be converted into or continued as LIBO Rate Loans; and (ii) on the Conversion/Continuation Date, if the Loans are to be converted into Base Rate Loans, specifying: (A) the proposed Conversion/Continuation Date; (B) the aggregate amount of Loans to be converted or continued; (C) the Interest Rate Type of

Loans resulting from the proposed conversion or continuation; and (D) other than in the case of conversions into Base Rate Loans, the duration of the requested Interest Period.

(c) If, upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to LIBO Rate Loans, the Company has failed to select in a timely manner a new Interest Period to be applicable to LIBO Rate Loans, or if any Default or Event of Default then exists, the Company shall be deemed to have elected to convert such LIBO Rate Loans into Base Rate Loans effective as of the expiration date of such Interest Period.

(d) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, or, if no timely notice is provided by the Company, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion. All conversions and continuations shall be made ratably according to the respective Lender's Pro Rata Share of outstanding principal amounts of the Loans with respect to which the notice was given.

(e) The number of tranches outstanding of LIBO Rate Loans, whether under a conversion or continuation, shall not exceed eight (8) at any one time.

2.4 Optional Prepayments.

(a) Subject to Section 3.4, the Company may, at any time or from time to time, subject to the concurrent payment of the Premium:

(i) prepay Base Rate Loans upon irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent not less than one (1) Business Day, ratably as to each Lender, in whole or in part, in aggregate minimum principal amounts of $100,000 or integral multiples thereof, plus all interest and expenses then outstanding on such Base Rate Loans, and

(ii) prepay LIBO Rate Loans upon irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent not less than three (3) Business Days, ratably as to each Lender, in whole or in part, in aggregate minimum principal amounts of $500,000 or integral multiples thereof plus all interest and expenses then outstanding on such LIBO Rate Loans.

Such notice of prepayment shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Interest Rate Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid.

The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of any such notice, and of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of such prepayment. The payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, together with accrued interest to each such date on the amount prepaid, the applicable Premium, and any amounts required pursuant to Section 3.4.

(b) For purposes hereof, the "Premium" shall be a cash amount equal to the percentages of principal amount of the Loans being prepaid set forth below:

If prepaid after the Effective Date, but prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date	2.0	%
If prepaid on or after the first anniversary of the Effective Date, but prior to second anniversary of the Effective Date	1.0	%
If prepaid on or after the second anniversary of the Effective Date	0.0	%

2.5 Mandatory Prepayments.

(a) If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from any Disposition described in Sections 8.2(f) or (g) or any Recovery Event, to the extent (i) such Disposition and related receipt of Net Cash Proceeds do not result in an automatic reduction to the Borrowing Base (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect at the Effective Date) pursuant to Section 8.2(f) of the First Lien Credit Agreement (as in effect at the Effective

Date) and (ii) such Net Proceeds are not used to cure a Deficiency (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date) or otherwise applied as required by Section 2.6(f)(ii) of the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date, the Company shall (i) first, apply such portion of such Net Cash Proceeds to the repayment of the Loans under the First Lien Credit Agreement as shall be necessary to cause the Utilization Percentage (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement in effect on the Effective Date) to be no greater than 75% and (ii) second, to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 8.9 of the First Lien Credit Agreement, cause the Loans to be prepaid in an amount equal to the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds, as set forth in Sections 2.5(e) and 2.10. The provisions of this Section 2.5(a) do not constitute a consent to the consummation of any Disposition not permitted by Section 8.2(f) or otherwise requiring the prior written consent of the Required Lenders.

(b) If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall issue any Capital Stock resulting in the receipt by the issuer of Net Cash Proceeds, then on the third Business Day following the date of such issuance, the Company shall (i) first, apply such portion of such Net Cash Proceeds to the repayment of the Loans under the First Lien Credit Agreement as shall be necessary to cause the Utilization Percentage (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement in effect on the Effective Date) to be no greater than 75% and (ii) second, to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 8.9 of the First Lien Credit Agreement, cause the Loans to be prepaid in an amount equal to 50% of such Net Cash Proceeds, as set forth in Sections 2.5(e) and 2.10; provided, however, that if at the time of such issuance of Capital Stock the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (after giving effect to such issuance and the proposed use of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof) would be less than 3.00 to 1.00 but equal to or greater than 2.00 to 1.00, then the amount required to be so applied shall be reduced to 25% of such Net Cash Proceeds; and provided further,however, that if at the time of such issuance of Capital Stock the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (after giving effect to such issuance and the proposed use of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof) would be less than 2.00 to 1.00, no prepayment shall be required as a result of such issuance. The provisions of this Section 2.5(b) do not constitute a consent to the issuance of any Capital Stock by any Person whose Capital Stock is pledged pursuant to the Security Documents.

(c) If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall incur any Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) then on the date of such incurrence, the Company shall (i) first, apply such portion of such Net Cash Proceeds to the repayment of the Loans under the First Lien Credit Agreement as shall be necessary to cause the Utilization Percentage (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement in effect on the Effective Date) to be no greater than 75% and (ii) second, to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 8.9 of the First Lien Credit Agreement, cause the Loans to be prepaid in an amount equal to the Net Cash Proceeds of such incurrence, as set forth in Sections 2.5(e) and 2.10. The provisions of this Section 2.5(c) do not constitute a consent to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d) If the Special Mandatory Repayment Time (as defined in the Cash Collateral Agreement) occurs prior to the Acquisition Funding Release Time (also as so defined) and before a Triggering Event occurs, the Company shall cause the Loans to be prepaid in full.

(e) All mandatory prepayments provided for in this Section 2.5 shall be made together with interest accrued on the principal amount prepaid and any amount required by Section 3.4, but without any Premium. Any amount required to be prepaid pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be applied to prepay the Loans.

2.6 Repayment.

(a) Principal. The Company shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders the outstanding principal balance of the Loans (and the outstanding principal of the

Loans shall be due and payable) on the Maturity Date or on such date on which the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Sections 2.4 or 2.5 or Article IX.

(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing Indebtedness of the Company to such Lender resulting from each Loan of such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

(c) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Company, shall maintain the Register, and a subaccount therein for each Lender, in which shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Company to each Lender hereunder and (iii) both the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Company and each Lender's share thereof. The Register shall be available for inspection by each Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) The entries made in the Register and the accounts of each Lender maintained pursuant to Section 2.7(b) shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Company therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain the Register or any such account, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Company to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to the Company by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the Company's entitlement to credit for any payment of principal or interest on the Loans.

2.7 Interest.

(a) Each Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from the Effective Date or date of conversion or continuation pursuant to Section 2.3, as the case may be, at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (i) the LIBO Rate or the Adjusted Base Rate, as the case may be, plus the Applicable Margin and (ii) the Highest Lawful Rate.

(b) Interest on each Loan shall be paid in arrears on each Interest Payment Date. Interest shall also be paid on the date of any prepayment of Loans under Section 2.4 or 2.5 for the portion of the Loans so prepaid and upon payment (including prepayment) in full thereof and, during the existence of any Event of Default, interest shall be paid on demand of the Administrative Agent.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section 2.7, while any Event of Default exists or after acceleration, the Company shall pay interest (after as well as before entry of judgment thereon to the extent permitted by law) on the principal amount of all outstanding Loans, at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (i) the Highest Lawful Rate and (ii) the rate otherwise applicable plus two percent (2%) ("Default Rate").

2.8 Fees. The Company will pay fees to the parties and in the amounts specified in the Fee Letter Agreement.

2.9 Computation of Fees and Interest.

(a) All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more interest being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365 day year). Interest and fees shall accrue during each period during which interest or such fees are computed from the first day thereof to the last day thereof.

(b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error.

2.10 Payments by the Company; Loans Pro Rata.

(a) All payments to be made by the Company shall be made without set off, recoupment or counterclaim. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Company shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders at the Agent's Payment Office, and shall be made in dollars and in immediately available funds, no later than 12:00 p.m. (New York, New York time) on the date specified herein. Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) each payment by the Company of fees shall be made for the account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares, (ii) each payment of principal of Loans shall be made for the account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective outstanding principal amount of such Loans, and (iii) each payment of interest on Loans shall be made for the account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective shares of the aggregate amount of interest due and payable to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its applicable share of such payment in like funds as received. Any payment received by the Administrative Agent later than 12:00 p.m. (New York, New York time) shall be deemed to have been received on the following Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

(b) Subject to the provisions set forth in the definition of "Interest Period" herein, whenever any payment is due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the following Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or fees, as the case may be.

(c) Unless the Administrative Agent receives notice from the Company prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders that the Company will not make such payment in full as and when required, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Company has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date in immediately available funds and the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be so required), in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent the Company has not made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent on demand such amount distributed to such Lender, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date repaid.

(d) Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided herein, the Loans hereunder shall be from the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 2.5(a), (b), (c) or elsewhere in this Section 2.10, each Lender may, at its option, decline all (and not less than all) of the portion of any mandatory payment due such Lender pursuant to Sections 2.5(a), (b) or (c); provided, however, that the amounts so declined shall be offered to prepay the Loans made by the other Lenders as specified below. Accordingly, with respect to the amount of any mandatory prepayment described in Sections 2.5(a), (b) or (c) that is allocated to the Loans (such amount, the "Mandatory Prepayment Amount"), any Lender may elect, by notice to the Administrative Agent at or prior to the time and in the manner specified by the Administrative Agent, prior to any prepayment of Loans required to be made by the Company pursuant to Sections 2.5(a), (b) or (c), to decline all (but not a portion) of its pro rata share of such Mandatory Prepayment Amount (such declined amounts, the "Declined Proceeds"). Any Declined Proceeds shall be offered one additional time to the Lenders not so declining such prepayment (with such Lenders having the right to decline any prepayment with Declined Proceeds at the time and in the manner specified by the Administrative Agent). Any remaining Declined Proceeds shall be applied as determined by the Company in accordance with this Agreement.

(f) The Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, at the time of each prepayment required under Sections 2.5(a), (b) or (c), (i) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the applicable Mandatory Prepayment Amount and (ii) to the extent practicable, at least three days prior written notice of such prepayment. Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date, the type of each Loan being prepaid (i.e., specifying Base Rate Loans or LIBO Rate Loans) and the principal amount of each Loan (or portion thereof) to be prepaid; provided, however, that, if at the time of any prepayment pursuant to Sections 2.5(a), (b) or (c) there shall be Loans of different types or LIBO Rate Loans with different Interest Periods, and if some but not all Lenders shall have accepted such mandatory prepayment, then the aggregate amount of such mandatory prepayment shall be allocated ratably to each outstanding Loan of the accepting Lenders.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each payment in respect of principal or interest on the Loans, each payment in respect of fees payable hereunder and any proceeds of Collateral, and Net Cash Proceeds received by the Administrative Agent and not required to be turned over to the First Lien Credit Agent pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement shall be applied in the following order:

(i) first, to the payment or reimbursement of the Administrative Agent for all costs, expenses, disbursements and losses incurred by the Administrative Agent and which the Company is required to pay or reimburse pursuant to the Loan Documents;

(ii) second, to the payment or reimbursement of the Lenders for all costs, expenses, disbursements and losses incurred by such Persons and which any Loan Party is required to pay or reimburse pursuant to the Loan Documents;

(iii) third, to the payment or prepayment to the Lenders of all Obligations; and

(iv) fourth, to whomsoever shall be legally entitled thereto.

If any Lender owes payments to the Administrative Agent hereunder, any amounts otherwise distributable under this Section 2.10(g) to such Lender shall be deemed to belong to the Administrative Agent to the extent of such unpaid payments, and the Administrative Agent shall apply such amounts to make such unpaid payments rather than distribute such amounts to such Lender. All distributions of amounts described in paragraphs second and third above shall be made by the Administrative Agent to each Lender based on its Pro Rata Share.

2.11 Payments by the Lenders to the Administrative Agent.

(a) Unless the Administrative Agent receives notice from a Lender on or prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York, New York time) on the Effective Date that such Lender will not make available as and when required hereunder to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Company the amount of that Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Loans, the Administrative Agent may assume that each Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds on the Effective Date and the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be so required), in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Company on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent any Lender shall not have made its full amount available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds and the Administrative Agent in such circumstances has made available to the Company such amount, that Lender shall on the Business Day following the Effective Date make such amount available to the Administrative Agent, together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate for each day during such period. A notice of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to amounts owing under this Section 2.11(a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If such amount is so made available, such payment to the Administrative Agent shall constitute such Lender's Loan on the Effective

Date for all purposes of this Agreement. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent on the Business Day following the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent will notify the Company of such failure to fund and, upon demand by the Administrative Agent, the Company shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent for the Administrative Agent's account, together with interest thereon for each day elapsed since the Effective Date, at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans.

(b) The failure of any Lender to make any Loan on the Effective Date shall not relieve any other Lender of any obligation hereunder to make a Loan on the Effective Date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on the Effective Date.

2.12 Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender shall obtain on account of the Obligations held by it any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set off, or otherwise) or receive any collateral in respect thereof in excess of the amount such Lender was entitled to receive pursuant to the terms hereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment according to the terms hereof; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender, such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender's ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender's required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Company agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set off, but subject to Section 11.9) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Company in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.12 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments.

ARTICLE III

YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.1 Taxes.

(a) Any and all payments by the Company to each Lender or the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes. In addition, the Company shall pay all Other Taxes.

(b) Subject to Section 3.1(f), the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Lender and the Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 3.1) paid by the Lender or the Administrative Agent and any liability (including penalties, interest, additions to Tax and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. Payment under this indemnification shall be made within 30 days after the date the affected Lender or the Administrative Agent makes written demand therefor.

(c) If the Company shall be required by law to deduct or withhold any Taxes or Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, then: (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions and withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.1), such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made; (ii) the Company shall make such deductions and withholdings; (iii) the Company shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant taxing authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law; and (iv) the Company shall also pay to each affected Lender or the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, at the time interest is paid, all additional amounts which such Lender specifies as necessary to preserve the after-tax yield such Lender would have received if such Taxes or Other Taxes had not been imposed.

(d) Within 30 days after the date of any payment by the Company of Taxes or Other Taxes under Section 3.1(c) above, the Company shall furnish the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof, or other evidence of payment satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) If the Company is required to pay additional amounts to any Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.1(c), then upon written request of the Company such Lender shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office so as to eliminate any such additional payment by the Company which may thereafter accrue, if such change in the judgment of such Lender is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

(f) No Lender that is required to comply with Section 10.10 shall be entitled to any indemnification under this Section 3.1 if the obligation with respect to which indemnification is sought would not have arisen but for a failure of the affected Lender to comply with such Section 10.10.

3.2 Illegality.

(a) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Requirement of Law, or any change in any Requirement of Law, or in the interpretation or administration of any Requirement of Law, has made it unlawful, or that any central bank or other Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make LIBO Rate

Loans, then, on notice thereof by the Lender to the Company through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of that Lender to make LIBO Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.

(b) If a Lender determines that it is unlawful to maintain any LIBO Rate Loan, the Company shall, upon its receipt of notice of such fact and demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay in full such LIBO Rate Loans of that Lender then outstanding, together with interest accrued thereon and amounts required under Section 3.4, either on the last day of the Interest Period thereof, if the Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBO Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if the Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBO Rate Loan. If the Company is required to so prepay any LIBO Rate Loan, then concurrently with such prepayment, the Company shall borrow from the affected Lender, in the amount of such repayment, a Base Rate Loan.

(c) If the obligation of any Lender to make or maintain LIBO Rate Loans has been so terminated or suspended, all Loans which would otherwise be made by the Lender as LIBO Rate Loans shall be instead Base Rate Loans.

(d) Before giving any notice to the Administrative Agent under this Section 3.2, the affected Lender shall designate a different Lending Office with respect to its LIBO Rate Loans if such designation will avoid the need for giving such notice or making such demand and will not, in the judgment of such Lender, be illegal or otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

3.3 Increased Costs and Reduction of Return.

(a) If any Lender determines that, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change (other than any change by way of imposition of or increase in reserve requirements included in the calculation of the LIBO Rate) in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance by that Lender with any guideline or request from any central bank or other Governmental Authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any LIBO Rate Loans, then the Company shall be liable for, and shall from time to time, upon demand (with a copy of such demand to be sent to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, additional amounts as are sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased costs.

(b) If any Lender shall have determined that (i) the introduction of any Capital Adequacy Regulation, (ii) any change in any Capital Adequacy Regulation, (iii) any change in the interpretation or administration of any Capital Adequacy Regulation by any central bank or other Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or (iv) compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) or any Affiliate controlling such Lender with any Capital Adequacy Regulation, affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any Affiliate controlling such Lender and (taking into consideration such Lender's or such Affiliate's policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender's desired return on capital) determines that the amount of such capital is increased as a consequence of its Commitment, Loans, other Credit Extensions, or Obligations under this Agreement, then, upon demand of such Lender to the Company through the Administrative Agent, the Company shall pay to such Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increase.

3.4 Funding Losses. The Company shall reimburse each Lender and hold each Lender harmless from any loss or expense which the Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) the failure of the Company to make on a timely basis any payment of principal of any LIBO

Rate Loan; (b) the failure of the Company to continue a LIBO Rate Loan or to convert a Base Rate Loan to a LIBO Rate Loan after the Company has given (or is deemed to have given) a Notice of Conversion/Continuation (including by reason of the failure to satisfy any condition precedent thereto); (c) the failure of the Company to make any prepayment in accordance with any notice delivered under Sections 2.4 or 2.5; (d) the prepayment (including pursuant to Sections 2.4 or 2.5) or other payment (including after acceleration thereof) of a LIBO Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of the relevant Interest Period; or (e) the automatic conversion under Section 2.3 of any LIBO Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan on a day that is not the last day of the relevant Interest Period; including any such loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain its LIBO Rate Loans or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Company to the Lenders under this Section 3.4 and under Section 3.3(a), each LIBO Rate Loan made by a Lender (and each related reserve, special deposit or similar requirement) shall be conclusively deemed to have been funded at the LIBOR used in determining the LIBO Rate for such LIBO Rate Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such LIBO Rate Loan is in fact so funded.

3.5 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Administrative Agent determines that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBO Rate Loan, or that the LIBO Rate applicable pursuant to Section 2.7(b) for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed LIBO Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain LIBO Rate Loans hereunder shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent upon the instruction of the Lenders revokes such notice in writing. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke any Notice of Conversion/Continuation then submitted by it. If the Company does not revoke such notice, the Lenders shall make, convert or continue the Loans, as proposed by the Company, in the amount specified in the applicable notice submitted by the Company, but such Loans shall be made, converted or continued as Base Rate Loans instead of LIBO Rate Loans.

3.6 Certificates of Lenders. Any Lender claiming reimbursement or compensation under this Article III shall deliver to the Company (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the amount payable to such Lender hereunder and such certificate shall be conclusive and binding on the Company in the absence of manifest error; provided, however, that such Lender shall only be entitled to collect amounts incurred within 180 days of such notice.

3.7 Substitution of Lenders. Upon the receipt by the Company from any Lender of a claim for compensation under this Article III and, as a result, the Company elects by written notice to the Administrative Agent to replace such dissenting Lender pursuant to this Section 3.7 (such Lender, an "Affected Lender"), the Company may: (a) obtain a replacement bank or financial institution satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to acquire and assume all or a ratable part of all of such Affected Lender's Loans (a "Replacement Lender"); or (b) request one more of the other Lenders to acquire and assume all or part of such Affected Lender's Loans but none of the Lenders shall have any obligation to do so. Any such designation of a Replacement Lender under clause (a) shall be subject to the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

3.8 Survival. The agreements and obligations of the Company in this Article III shall survive the payment of all other Obligations.

ARTICLE IV

SECURITY

4.1 The Security. The Obligations will be secured by the Security Documents.

4.2 Agreement to Deliver Security Documents. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, execute and deliver to the Collateral Trustee, with an executed copy of each thereof provided to the Administrative Agent, to further secure the Sharing Obligations, whenever requested by the Administrative Agent in its sole and absolute discretion, deeds of trust, mortgages, chattel mortgages, security agreements, financing statements and other Security Documents, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, for the purpose of granting, confirming, and perfecting, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, second and prior Liens or security interests in any Property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, subject only to Permitted Liens. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, deliver, and cause its Subsidiaries, where applicable, to deliver, in each case to the Collateral Trustee, with an executed copy of each thereof provided to the Administrative Agent, whenever requested by the Administrative Agent, favorable title opinions from legal counsel acceptable to the Administrative Agent, title insurance policies, or such other evidence of title satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect to the Mortgaged Properties designated by the Administrative Agent, based upon abstract or record examinations acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (a) stating that the Company or its Subsidiary, as applicable, has good and marketable title to the Mortgaged Properties, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens, (b) confirming that such Mortgaged Properties are subject to Security Documents securing the Sharing Obligations that constitute and create legal, valid and duly perfected deed of trust or mortgage Liens in such Mortgaged Properties and interests, and assignments of and security interests in the Oil and Gas attributable to such Mortgaged Properties comprised of Oil and Gas Properties and interests and the proceeds thereof, in each case subject only to Permitted Liens, and (c) covering such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

4.3 Perfection and Protection of Security Interests and Liens. The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, from time to time deliver to the Collateral Trustee, with a copy of each thereof to the Administrative Agent, any financing statements, amendment, assignment and continuation statements, extension agreements and other documents, properly completed and executed (and acknowledged when required) by the Company or its Subsidiary, as applicable, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which the Administrative Agent reasonably requests for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, or protecting any Liens or other rights in Collateral securing any Sharing Obligations, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

4.4 Offset. To secure the repayment of the Sharing Obligations, the Company hereby grants the Administrative Agent and each Lender a security interest, a Lien, and a right of offset, each of which shall be in addition to all other interests, Liens, and rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders at common law, under the Loan Documents, or otherwise, and each of which shall be upon and against (a) any and all moneys, securities or other Property (and the proceeds therefrom) of the Company now or hereafter held or received by or in transit to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from or for the account of the Company, whether for safekeeping, custody, pledge, transmission, collection or otherwise, (b) any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) of the Company with the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and (c) any other credits and claims of the Company at any time existing against the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including claims under certificates of deposit. During the existence of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent or any Lender is hereby

authorized to foreclose upon, offset, appropriate, and apply, at any time and from time to time, without notice to the Company, any and all items hereinabove referred to against the Obligations then due and payable.

4.5 Guaranty.

(a) Each Original Guarantor has executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent, and each Subsidiary of the Company now existing or created, acquired or coming into existence after the date hereof that is a Guarantor (including the TexCal Subsidiaries) shall, promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, a Guaranty setting forth therein an absolute and unconditional guaranty of the timely repayment of, and the due and punctual performance of the Obligations of the Company hereunder, which Guaranty shall be satisfactory to the Lenders in form and substance. The Company will cause each of its Subsidiaries to deliver to the Administrative Agent, simultaneously with its delivery of such a Guaranty, written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel that such Subsidiary has taken all corporate, limited liability company or partnership action necessary to duly approve and authorize its execution, delivery and performance of such Guaranty and any Security Documents and other documents which it is required to execute.

(b) Guaranty Representations. To induce the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to enter into this Agreement, the Company and each Guarantor represents and warrants to each such person, (i) as of and after giving effect to the making of the Loans at the Effective Time, and (ii) after giving effect to the TexCal Acquisition and the making of the Loans at the TexCal Closing Time, as of the TexCal Closing Time:

(i) Benefit to Guarantors. The Company and each Guarantor are mutually dependent on each other in the conduct of their respective businesses, with the credit needed from time to time by each often being provided by another or by means of financing obtained by one such Affiliate with the support of the other for their mutual benefit and the ability of each to obtain such financing is dependent on the successful operations of the other. The board of directors, manager or general partner, where applicable, of each Guarantor has determined that such Guarantor's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement may reasonably be expected to directly or indirectly benefit such Guarantor and is in the best interests of such Guarantor.

(ii) Reasonable Consideration for Guaranties. The direct or indirect value of the consideration received and to be received by such Guarantor in connection herewith is reasonably worth at least as much as the liability and obligations of each Guarantor hereunder and its Guaranty, and the incurrence of such liability and obligations in return for such consideration may reasonably be expected to benefit such Guarantor, directly or indirectly.

(iii) No Insolvencies. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor is "insolvent" (that is, the sum of such Person's absolute and contingent liabilities, including the Obligations, does not exceed the fair market value of such Person's assets, including any rights of contribution, reimbursement or indemnity). Each of the Company and each Guarantor has capital which is adequate for the businesses in which such Person is engaged and intends to be engaged. None of the Company nor any Guarantor has incurred (whether hereby or otherwise), nor does the Company or Guarantor intend to incur or believe that it will incur, liabilities which will be beyond its ability to pay as such liabilities mature.

4.6 Production Proceeds. Notwithstanding that, by the terms of the various Security Documents, the Company is and will be assigning to the Collateral Trustee all of the Net Proceeds of Production accruing to the Mortgaged Properties covered thereby, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, pursuant to Section 7.03 of the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Collateral Trustee, on

behalf of the Secured Parties, has granted each of the Company and its Subsidiaries a revocable license to continue to receive from the purchasers of production all such Net Proceeds of Production, subject, however, to the Liens created under the Security Documents, which Liens are hereby affirmed and ratified. During the continuance of an Event of Default described under Sections 9.1(g) or (h), pursuant to Section 7.03 of the Collateral Trust Agreement, this license shall be automatically revoked, and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, this license shall be revocable by the Collateral Trustee, subject to Section 3.04(b) of the Collateral Trust Agreement, upon the written direction of the Administrative Agent in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent, by notice to the Company, and the Collateral Trustee may exercise all rights and remedies granted under the Security Documents, including the right to obtain possession of all Net Proceeds of Production then held by the Company and its Subsidiaries or to receive directly from the purchasers of production all other Net Proceeds of Production. In no case shall any failure, whether purposeful or inadvertent, by the Collateral Trustee to collect directly any such Net Proceeds of Production constitute in any way a waiver, remission or release of any of its rights under the Security Documents, nor shall any release of any Net Proceeds of Production by the Collateral Trustee to the Company and its Subsidiaries constitute a waiver, remission, or release of any other Net Proceeds of Production or of any rights of the Collateral Trustee to collect other Net Proceeds of Production thereafter.

ARTICLE V

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

5.1 Conditions of the Effective Date. The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to the condition that on or before the Effective Time the Administrative Agent shall have received all of the following, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and in sufficient copies for each Lender (or, in the case of clauses (g), (i), or (r), the conditions specified therein shall have been satisfied):

(a) Credit Agreement and Related Documents. This Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranty and the Security Documents, duly executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Original Guarantors party thereto;

(b) First Lien Credit Documents; Collateral Trust Agreement; Senior Notes Indenture. (i) Evidence that (x) each of the First Lien Credit Documents has been duly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto; and (y) each of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto other than the Administrative Agent; and (ii) true and correct copies, certified as to authenticity by the Company, of (x) the First Lien Credit Documents and (y) the Senior Notes Indenture;

(c) Resolutions; Incumbency; Organization Documents. (i) Resolutions of the board of directors of the Company and members or the board of directors of each Original Guarantor or its general partner, as applicable, authorizing the transactions contemplated hereby, certified as of the Effective Time by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person; (ii) Certificates of the Secretary of the Company and the Secretary of each Original Guarantor certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of such Person authorized to execute, deliver and perform, as applicable, this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Guaranty, and all other Loan Documents to be delivered by it hereunder; and (iii) the Organization Documents of the Company and of each Original Guarantor as in effect on the Effective Time, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the such Person as of the Effective Time;

(d) Good Standing. A good standing certificate for the Company and each Original Guarantor from its state of incorporation or formation, and evidencing its qualification to do business in (i) California for the Company and each Original Guarantor, (ii) Texas for the Company, and (iii) in each other jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, in each case as of a recent date;

(e) Payment of Fees. Evidence of payment by the Company of all accrued and unpaid fees, costs and expenses owed pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date), the First Lien Credit Agreement and under this Agreement, including the Fee Letter Agreement, in each case to the extent then due and payable at the Effective Time, including any such costs, fees and expenses arising under or referenced in Sections 2.8 and 11.4;

(f) Certificate. A certificate signed by a Responsible Officer, dated as of the Effective Time, stating that (i) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and Section 4.5(b) are true and correct on and as of the Effective Date, as though made on and as of such date; (ii) no litigation is pending or threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary or any TexCal Subsidiary in which there is a reasonable probability of an adverse decision which would result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) there has occurred no event or circumstance that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect since December 31, 2004;

(g) Due Diligence. The Administrative Agent shall have completed a due diligence review satisfactory to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Required Lenders, including as to the legal structure, capital budgets, Tax position, hedging strategy and hedging position of the Company and its Subsidiaries and of the TexCal Energy Subsidiaries;

(h) Title. Evidence that the Company and its Subsidiaries have and, upon consummation of the TexCal Acquisition, will have good and marketable title on at least 85% of the Net Present Value of the Proved Reserves subject to no other Liens, other than Permitted Liens, evidenced by title information satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;

(i) Environmental. The Administrative Agent shall have completed a review satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of current public environmental data sources, registers and lists regarding the Company, each Original Guarantor and each TexCal Subsidiary and their respective Oil and Gas Properties and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be satisfied with all environmental matters;

(j) Insurance Certificates. Insurance certificates in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, from the Company's insurance carriers reflecting the current insurance policies required under Section 7.6 (such insurance will be primary and not contributing) including any necessary endorsements to reflect the Administrative Agent as loss payee for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, with the right to receive at least 30 days prior notice of cancellation of any such policy;

(k) Other Documents. Such other approvals, opinions, documents or materials as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may request, including those in connection with the TexCal Acquisition;

(l) Opinions of Counsel. (i) An opinion of Xxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP covering such matters as the Administrative Agent may require and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent dated as of the Effective Time, (ii) an opinion of Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP covering such matters of New York law as the Administrative Agent may require in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent dated as of the Effective Time and (iii) opinions of Xxxxxx and Xxxxx, LLP and Xxxxxx Brand LLP as to the enforceability and perfection of the

Liens and security interests created under the Mortgages filed or to be filed in Texas and California, respectively;

(m) TexCal Acquisition. (i) Evidence that all conditions precedent under the TexCal Acquisition Agreement other than payment of the "Closing Date Merger Consideration" (as defined therein) have been satisfied or waived by all parties thereto; and (ii) true and correct copies (in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent), certified as to authenticity by a Responsible Officer of the Company, of the TexCal Acquisition Documentation;

(n) Initial Reserve Report, TexCal Reserve Report, Financial Statements and Pro Forma Financial Statements. The Initial Reserve Report, the TexCal Reserve Report, the Audited Financial Statements, the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, the TexCal Audited Financial Statements and the Pro Forma Financial Statements, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(o) Lien Searches. Evidence of the results of a recent lien search in each of the jurisdictions in which UCC financing statements or other filings or recordations should be made to evidence or perfect security interests in any assets of the Company, any Original Guarantor or any TexCal Subsidiary, and such search shall reveal no Liens on any of the Property of the Company, any Original Guarantor or any TexCal Subsidiary, except for Permitted Liens;

(p) MMS Operational Matters. Evidence that the Company is qualified by the Minerals Management Service of the United States Department of Interior to operate its Hydrocarbon Interests comprised of leases covering submerged lands on the federal Outer Continental Shelf;

(q) Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Each document (including, without limitation, any UCC financing statement) required by the Security Documents or under law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a second priority perfected Lien on the Shared Collateral described in any Security Document to which the Company or any Original Guarantor is (or, upon consummation of the TexCal Acquisition, any Tex Cal Subsidiary will be) a party, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Permitted Liens), shall have been filed, registered or recorded or shall have been delivered to the Collateral Trustee in proper form for filing, registration or recordation;

(r) Approvals. All government and third party approvals (including any consents) necessary in connection with the TexCal Acquisition, the continuing operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect, and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken or threatened by any competent authority which would restrain, prevent or otherwise impose adverse conditions on the TexCal Acquisition or the financing contemplated hereby;

(s) Solvency. A certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying that, on a consolidated basis, the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) as of the Effective Time, are, and (ii) after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, including the TexCal Acquisition, will be, Solvent;

(t) Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Acknowledgment and Consent; Pledged Notes. The First Lien Credit Agent, on behalf of itself, for the benefit of the First Lien Secured Parties, and as agent and bailee for the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall have received (i) the certificates representing the shares of Capital Stock of the Company's Subsidiaries pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof, and (ii) each promissory note pledged by the Company and the Guarantors pursuant to the Security Agreement

endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank satisfactory to the First Lien Credit Agent) by the pledgor thereof; and

(u) Notice of Borrowing. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing in the form of Exhibit A with respect to the initial Credit Extensions hereunder contemplated by Section 2.1.

5.2 Conditions to All Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to make the Loans on the Effective Date or to continue or convert any Loan under Section 2.3 (but specifically excluding the conversion of LIBO Rate Loans on the last day of the Interest Period therefor into Base Rate Loans) from and after the Effective Time is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the Effective Date or Conversion/Continuation Date:

(a) Notice. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Conversion/Continuation (if applicable);

(b) Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties in Article VI and Section 4.5(b) shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date or Conversion/Continuation Date with the same effect as if made on and as of the Effective Date or Conversion/Continuation Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date);

(c) No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall result from such making, continuation or conversion;

(d) No Event or Condition of Material Adverse Effect. No event or condition having a Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since December 31, 2004, or if applicable the date of the most recent annual audited consolidated financial statements of the Company delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.1(a); and

(e) Mortgaged Properties. The Administrative Agent shall be satisfied that the Loan Parties have granted to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, at such time, fully perfected Liens on Oil and Gas Properties that are Mortgaged Properties, subject only to Permitted Liens, sufficient to cause the Mortgaged Properties to include eighty-five percent (85%) of the Net Present Value of the Proved Reserves and at least ninety-five percent (95%) of the Net Present Value of the Proved Developed Producing Reserves.

Each Notice of Conversion/Continuation submitted by the Company hereunder shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company hereunder, as of the date of each such notice and as of the Conversion/Continuation Date that the conditions in Section 5.2 are satisfied.

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

To induce the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to enter into this Agreement, the Company and each Guarantor represents and warrants to each such Person, as of and after giving effect to the making of the Loans at the Effective Time:

6.1 Organization, Existence and Power. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries: (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation; (b) has the power and authority and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to own its assets, carry on its business and to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents; (c) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company and is licensed and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where

its ownership, lease or operation of Property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license, except where failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) is in compliance in all material respects with all Requirements of Law.

6.2 Corporate Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and its Subsidiaries of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which such Person is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational action, and do not and will not: (a) contravene the terms of any of that Person's Organization Documents; (b) contravene the First Lien Credit Agreement; (c) contravene the Senior Notes Indenture; (d) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, any document evidencing any material Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party that would be prior to the Liens granted to the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties or otherwise that would constitute a Material Adverse Effect, or any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which such Person or its material Property is subject; or (e) violate in any material respect any Requirement of Law.

6.3 Governmental Authorization. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to which it is a party, except for the filing of a Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the TexCal Acquisition; filings necessary to obtain and maintain perfection of Liens; routine filings related to the Company and the operation of its business; and such filings as may be necessary in connection with the Lenders' exercise of remedies hereunder.

6.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which the Company or such Subsidiary is a party constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries to the extent it is a party thereto, enforceable against such Person in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

6.5 Litigation. Unless specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.5 attached hereto, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending, or to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, against the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Properties which (i) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby; or (ii) if determined adversely to the Company or its Subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No injunction, writ, temporary restraining order or any order of any nature has been issued by any court or other Governmental Authority purporting to enjoin or restrain the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, or directing that the transactions provided for herein or therein not be consummated as herein or therein provided.

6.6 No Default. No Default or Event of Default exists or would be reasonably expected to result from the incurring of any Obligations by the Company. No "Default" or "Event of Default" (as those terms are defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement or the Senior Notes Indenture) exists under the First Lien Credit Agreement or the Senior Notes Indenture, respectively. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any other Contractual Obligation in any respect which, individually or together with all such defaults, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.7 ERISA Compliance. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.7:

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state law. Each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Code Section 401(a) is either (i) a prototype plan entitled to rely on the opinion letter issued by the IRS as to the qualified status of such plan under Section 401 of the Code to the extent provided in Revenue Procedure 2005-16, or (ii) the recipient of a determination letter from the IRS to the effect that such Plan is qualified, and the plans and trusts related thereto are exempt from federal income Taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code. To the best knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred which would cause the loss of such qualification. The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of Company, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

6.8 Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used solely for the purposes set forth in and permitted by Section 7.13. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is generally engaged in the business of purchasing or selling Margin Stock or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

6.9 Title to Properties. The Company and each Subsidiary have good and marketable title to the Mortgaged Properties subject only to Permitted Liens, and, except for such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, have good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all other Property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of their respective businesses. The Mortgaged Properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries are subject to no Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

6.10 Oil and Gas Reserves. The Company and each Subsidiary is and will hereafter be, in all material respects, the owner of the Oil and Gas that it purports to own from time to time in and under its Oil and Gas Properties, together with the right to produce the same. The Oil and Gas Properties are not subject to any Lien other than as set forth in the financial statements referred to in Section 6.14, as disclosed in such financial statements to the Lenders in writing prior to the Effective Time and Permitted Liens. All Oil and Gas has been and will hereafter be produced, sold and delivered by the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations of every Governmental Authority; each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects (from the time of acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary) and will hereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all material terms of each oil, gas and mineral lease comprising its Oil and Gas Properties; and all such material oil, gas and mineral leases under which the Company or a Subsidiary is a lessee or co-lessee have been and will hereafter be

maintained in full force and effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.10 shall prevent the Company or its Subsidiaries from abandoning any well or forfeiting, surrendering or releasing any lease in the ordinary course of business which is not materially disadvantageous in any way to the Lenders and which, in the opinion of the Company or its Subsidiaries, is in its best interest, and following which the Company and its Subsidiaries are and will hereafter be in compliance with all obligations hereunder and the other Loan Documents. To the best of the knowledge of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all of the Hydrocarbon Interests comprising its Oil and Gas Properties are and will hereafter be enforceable in all material respects in accordance with their terms, except as such may be modified by applicable bankruptcy law or an order of a court in equity.

6.11 Reserve Report. The Company has heretofore delivered to the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of (x) a report, dated effective as of January 1, 2006, prepared by Netherland Xxxxxx & Associates, Inc. (the "Initial Reserve Report") covering certain of the Company's Oil and Gas Properties located in or offshore California relating to an evaluation of the Oil and Gas attributable to certain of the Mortgaged Properties described therein and (y) a report, dated as of December 31, 2005, prepared by XxXxxxxx and XxxXxxxxxxx covering certain Oil and Gas Properties of the TexCal Subsidiaries (the "TexCal Reserve Report"). To the best knowledge of the Company, (i) the assumptions stated or used in the preparation of any Reserve Report are reasonable, (ii) all information furnished by the Company or any Guarantor to the Independent Engineer for use in the preparation of any Reserve Report was accurate in all material respects, (iii) there has been no material adverse change in the amount of the estimated Oil and Gas reserves shown in any Reserve Report since the date thereof, except for changes which have occurred as a result of production in the ordinary course of business, and (iv) each Reserve Report does not, in any case, omit any material statement or information necessary to cause the same not to be misleading to the Lenders.

6.12 Gas Imbalances. Except as disclosed to the Lenders in writing prior to the Effective Time, there are no gas imbalances, take or pay or other prepayments with respect to any of the Oil and Gas Properties in excess of $400,000 in the aggregate which would require the Company or its Subsidiaries to deliver Oil and Gas produced from any of the Oil and Gas Properties at some future time without then or thereafter receiving full payment therefor.

6.13 Taxes. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all federal Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal Taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their Properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all state and other non-federal Tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all state and other non-federal Taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their Properties, income or assets prior to delinquency thereof, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. To the Company's knowledge, there is no proposed Tax assessment against the Company or any Subsidiary that would, if made, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.14 Financial Statements and Condition.

(a) The Audited Financial Statements, the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements referred to in Section 5.1(n) and the TexCal Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the TexCal Subsidiaries, as the case may be, as of the dates thereof and results of operations for the periods covered thereby (subject, in the case of the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements referred to in

Section 5.1(n), to normal and immaterial audit adjustments); and (iii) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.14(a) or (A) in the case of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in the Audited Financial Statements or the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements referred to in Section 5.1(n) and (B) in the case of the TexCal Subsidiaries, the TexCal Audited Financial Statements, neither the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, nor the TexCal Subsidiaries, on the other hand, respectively, have any material Indebtedness or other material liabilities, direct or contingent, as of the date hereof, including liabilities for Taxes, material commitments or Contingent Obligations.

(b) The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005, and the unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the year ended December 31, 2005 (including the notes thereto) (collectively, the "Pro Forma Financial Statements"), copies of which have heretofore been furnished to each Lender, has been prepared giving effect (as if such events had occurred on such date or the beginning of such period) to (i) the TexCal Acquisition, (ii) the extensions of credit to be made under this Agreement and the First Lien Credit Agreement prior to or in connection with the TexCal Acquisition and (iii) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing. The Pro Forma Financial Statements have been prepared based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable as of the Effective Time, and present fairly on a pro forma basis the estimated financial position and results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as at December 31, 2005 and for the year then ended, assuming that the events specified in the preceding sentence had actually occurred at such date.

(c) During the period from December 31, 2005 to and including the date hereof there has been no Disposition by the Company or any Subsidiaries of any material part of its business or Property, other than (i) the dividend of the membership interests in 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, LLC and (ii) Dispositions permitted by Section 8.2(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e).

(d) Since December 31, 2004 through the Effective Time, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

6.15 Environmental Matters. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries conducts in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and existing Environmental Claims on its business, operations and Properties, and such Properties which it is acquiring or planning to acquire and as a result thereof the Company has reasonably concluded that, unless specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.15, such Environmental Laws and Environmental Claims would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.16 Regulated Entities. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, any Person controlling the Company, or any Subsidiary, is an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940. None of the Company, any Person controlling the Company or any Subsidiary, is subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, any state public utilities code, or any other federal or state statute or regulation limiting its ability to incur Indebtedness.

6.17 No Burdensome Restrictions. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.17, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any Contractual Obligation, or subject to any restriction in any Organization Document, or any Requirement of Law, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.18 Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Licenses, etc. The Company and each Subsidiary own or are licensed or otherwise have the right to use all of the material patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, contractual franchises, authorizations and other rights that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without material conflict with the rights of any other Person. To the best knowledge of the Company, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Company or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 6.5, no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, and no patent, invention, device, application, principle or any statute, law, rule, regulation, standard or code is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, proposed, which, in either case, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.19 Subsidiaries. As of the Effective Time and, after giving effect to the TexCal Acquisition as of the TexCal Closing Time, the Company has no Subsidiary other than those specifically disclosed in part (a) of Schedule 6.19 hereto (and, with respect to the TexCal Closing Time, those specified in Schedule 1.1(c) hereto) and has no material equity investments in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in part (b) of Schedule 6.19.

6.20 Insurance. The Properties of the Company and each Subsidiary are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies that are not Affiliates of the Company, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar Properties in localities where the Company or such Subsidiary operates. Such insurance is primary and not contributing.

6.21 Full Disclosure. None of the representations or warranties made by the Company or any Subsidiary in the Loan Documents as of the date such representations and warranties are made or deemed made, and none of the statements contained in any exhibit, report, written statement or certificate furnished by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the Loan Documents, taken as whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact known to the Company or omits any material fact known to the Company required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading as of the time when made or delivered; provided, however that insofar as this Section 6.21 relates to the TexCal Subsidiaries, the representations in this Section 6.21 are made as of the TexCal Closing Time; and provided further, however, that such qualification shall no longer apply in the case of the making or deemed making of such representations at a later date under Section 5.2 or otherwise.

6.22 Solvency. The Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole are, and the Company, individually, and each Guarantor, and after giving effect to (a) the TexCal Acquisition and the incurrence of all Indebtedness and obligations being incurred in connection herewith and therewith, and (b) all rights of contribution of such Person against other Loan Parties under the Guaranty, at law, in equity or otherwise, will be and will continue to be, Solvent.

6.23 Labor Matters. Except to the extent such matters do not to constitute a Material Adverse Effect, (a) no actual or threatened strikes, labor disputes, slowdowns, walkouts, work stoppages, or other concerted interruptions of operations that involve any employees employed at any time in connection with the business activities or operations at the Property of the Company or any Subsidiary exist, (b) hours worked by and payment made to the employees of the Company have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable laws pertaining to labor matters, (c) all payments due from the Company or any Subsidiary for employee health and welfare insurance, including, without limitation, workers compensation insurance, have been paid or accrued as a liability on its books, and (d) except as set forth in Item 3 of Schedule 6.5, the business activities and

operations of the Company and each Subsidiary are in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act and other applicable health and safety laws.

6.24 Downstream Contracts. The Company's marketing, gathering, transportation, processing and treating facilities and equipment, together with any marketing, gathering, transportation, processing and treating contracts in effect among, inter alia, Company and any other Person, are, except as set forth on Schedule 6.24, sufficient to market, gather, transport, process or treat, as applicable, reasonably anticipated volumes of production of Oil and Gas from the Company's Oil and Gas Properties. Any such contracts with Affiliates are disclosed on Schedule 6.24 hereto.

6.25 Derivative Contracts. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is party to any Derivative Contract other than (a) as of the Effective Time, the Existing Derivative Contracts or (b) after the Effective Time, Derivative Contracts permitted by Sections 7.15 or 8.10.

6.26 Ellwood Subsidiary. Ellwood (a) has not engaged in any business other than the ownership and operation of common carrier crude oil pipelines and (b) as a result of Requirements of Law in effect as of the Effective Date, is prevented from duly executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a Guaranty (or a joinder thereto) or the Security Agreement (or a joinder thereto).

6.27 Senior Notes Indenture. The Obligations incurred in connection with the Loan Documents, after giving effect to the transactions and extensions of credit contemplated hereby, including the TexCal Acquisition, (a) constitute "Senior Debt", as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture and (b) constitutes Indebtedness (as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture) that is permitted to be incurred under the Indenture pursuant to Section 3.3(a) of the Senior Notes Indenture. The Senior Notes and the Senior Note Subsidiary Guarantees are secured by the Liens granted under the Security Documents on an "equal and ratable" basis with the Liens securing the Obligations.

6.28 Existing Indebtedness. Other than Permitted Indebtedness, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, including the TexCal Acquisition, no Loan Party has any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock outstanding.

6.29 TexCal Acquisition Documents. Following the execution and delivery of the TexCal Acquisition Documents listed on Schedule 6.29, such documents will constitute all of the material agreements, instruments and undertakings with TexCal Energy or its Affiliates to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or by which such Person or any of its property or assets is bound or affected relating to the TexCal Acquisition (other than agreements, instruments or undertakings of TexCal and its Subsidiaries existing prior to the completion of the TexCal Acquisition).

6.30 Security Documents.

(a) The Security Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid, binding and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and proceeds and products thereof. In the case of the Pledged Stock described in the Security Agreement, when any stock certificates representing such Pledged Stock are delivered to the First Lien Credit Agent, as agent and bailee for the Collateral Trustee, and in the case of the other Collateral described in the Security Agreement, when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 6.30(a)-1 (which financing statements may be filed by the Collateral Trustee) at any time and such other filings as are specified on Schedule 3 to the Security Agreement have been completed (all of which filings may be filed by the Collateral Trustee) at any time, the Security Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and the proceeds and products thereof, as security for the Sharing Obligations, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person (except Permitted Liens). Schedule 6.30(a)-2 lists each UCC financing statement that (i) names any Loan Party as debtor and (ii) will remain on

file after the Effective Time or the TexCal Closing Time (as applicable). Schedule 6.30(a)-3 lists each UCC financing statement that (i) names any Loan Party as debtor and (ii) will be terminated on or prior to the Effective Time or the TexCal Closing Time (as applicable).

(b) Each of the Mortgages is effective to create in favor of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid, binding and enforceable Lien on the Mortgaged Properties described therein and proceeds and products thereof; and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 6.30(b) (in the case of Mortgages to be executed and delivered on the Effective Date or the TexCal Closing Time (as applicable)) or in the recording office designated by the Company (in the case of any Mortgage to be executed and delivered pursuant to Section 7.14(b)), each Mortgage shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Properties described therein and the proceeds and products thereof, as security for the Sharing Obligations, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than Persons holding Liens or other encumbrances or rights permitted by the relevant Mortgage).

ARTICLE VII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, unless the Lenders waive compliance in writing:

7.1 Financial Statements. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) maintain for itself and each of its respective Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent who will make available to each Lender:

(a) as soon as available, but not later than April 30, 2006 and not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year ending thereafter, a copy of the annual audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2005 and as at the end of such year ending thereafter, respectively, and the related consolidated statements of operations and retained earnings, comprehensive income and cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year; the Company's financial statements shall be accompanied by the unqualified opinion (or, if qualified, of a non-material nature (e.g. FASB changes of accounting principles) or nothing indicative of going concern or material misrepresentation nature) and a copy of the management letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP or other nationally recognized independent public accounting firm acceptable to the Required Lenders (the "Independent Auditor"), which report shall state that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the end of such periods and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP; and

(b) as soon as available, but not later than 60 days after the close of each of the first three quarterly periods, a copy of the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of operations and retained earnings, comprehensive income and cash flows for the period commencing on the first day and ending on the last day of such period, setting forth in each case in comprehensive form the figures for the comparable period in the previous fiscal year and certified by a Responsible Officer as fairly presenting in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal and recurring year-end audit adjustments), the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the end of such periods and the results of their operations and their cash flows.

7.2 Certificates; Other Production and Reserve Information. The Company shall furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) as soon as available, but not later than 60 days after the close of each quarter, a Quarterly Status Report in a form reasonably acceptable to the Lenders, as of the last day of the immediately preceding quarter;

(b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.1(a) and (b), and the reports referred to in Section 7.2(a), a Compliance Certificate and a Compliance Certificate (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement), in each case executed by a Responsible Officer;

(c) on or before (i) April 1, effective as of January 1, of each year during the term of this Agreement, a Reserve Report prepared by Xxxxx Xxxxx Co. L.P., Netherland Xxxxxx & Associates, Inc., XxXxxxxx and XxxXxxxxxxx or other independent petroleum engineer acceptable to the Lenders (the "Independent Engineer") and (ii) October 1, effective as of July 1, of each year during the term of this Agreement, a Reserve Report prepared by the Company in substantially the same form as the January 1 Reserve Report and certified by a Responsible Officer as true and correct in all material respects, in each case in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders in their sole discretion;

(d) promptly upon the request of the Lenders, such copies of all geological, engineering and related data contained in the Company's files or readily accessible to the Company relating to its and its Subsidiaries' Oil and Gas Properties as may reasonably be requested;

(e) on request by the Administrative Agent, based upon the Administrative Agent's or the Required Lenders' good faith belief that the Company's or its Subsidiaries' title to the Mortgaged Properties or the Administrative Agent's Lien thereon is subject to claims of third parties, or if required by regulations to which the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders is subject, title and mortgage Lien evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent covering such Mortgaged Property as may be designated by the Administrative Agent, covering the Company's or its Subsidiaries' title thereto and evidencing that the Obligations are secured by Liens and security interests as provided in this Agreement and the Security Documents;

(f) promptly upon its completion in each fiscal year of the Company commencing with the 2006 fiscal year through and including the 2011 fiscal year, and not later than January 30 of each such fiscal year, a copy of the annual budget of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such fiscal year, projecting total Oil and Gas revenue, total revenue, total operating costs and expenses, Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated EBITDA and total capital expenditures, by fiscal quarter;

(g) simultaneously with transmission thereof, such notices, certificates, documents and information (other than interest rate elections relating to the selection of the LIBO Rate (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement) and routine correspondence and other communications) as any Loan Party may furnish the Indenture Trustee or any holders of Senior Notes, the First Lien Credit Agent or any First Lien Credit Lender;

(h) no later than ten Business Days prior to the effectiveness thereof, copies of substantially final drafts of any proposed amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification in respect of any First Lien Credit Document or Senior Note Debt Document, or any agreements, instruments or other documents in respect of the termination, replacement or refinancing thereof; and

(i) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Company or any Subsidiary as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any Lender, may from time to time reasonably request.

7.3 Notices. The Company shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender in writing:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, and of the occurrence or existence of any event or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to become a Default or Event of Default;

(b) of any matter that has resulted or may reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) material breach or non performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary or any allegation thereof; (ii) any material dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Company or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any material litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

(c) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Company or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries;

(d) of the formation or acquisition of any Subsidiary (other than a TexCal Subsidiary);

(e) of any new plugging bond or performance bond issued for the account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries if the uninsured portion of the obligation underlying such bond is greater than or equal to $6,000,000; and

(f) any proposed amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification to, or in respect of, or the proposed termination, replacement or refinancing of, any of the First Lien Credit Documents or Senior Note Debt Documents.

Each notice under this Section 7.3 shall be accompanied by a written statement by a Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein, and stating what action the Company or any affected Subsidiary proposes to take with respect thereto and at what time. Each notice under Section 7.3(a) shall describe with particularity any and all clauses or provisions of this Agreement or other Loan Document that have been (or foreseeably will be) breached or violated.

7.4 Preservation of Company Existence, Etc. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to:

(a) preserve and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence, and maintain its good standing under the laws of its state or jurisdiction of formation except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) preserve and maintain in full force and effect all governmental rights, privileges, qualifications, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) use reasonable efforts, in the ordinary course of business, to preserve its business organization and goodwill except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(d) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non preservation of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.5 Maintenance of Property. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, maintain and preserve all its Property which is used or useful in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and to use the standard of care

typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 7.5 shall prevent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from abandoning any well or forfeiting, surrendering or releasing any lease in the ordinary course of business which is not materially disadvantageous in any way to the Lenders and which, in its opinion, is in the best interest of the Company, and following which the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is and will hereafter be in compliance with all obligations hereunder and the other Loan Documents.

7.6 Insurance. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable independent insurers, insurance with respect to its Properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Such insurance will be primary and not contributing.

7.7 Payment of Obligations. Unless being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary, the Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge prior to delinquency, all their respective obligations and liabilities, including: (a) all Tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its Properties or assets; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its Property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness; except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.8 Compliance with Laws. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, comply in all material respects with all Requirements of Law of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or its business (including the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act), including with respect to the transactions contemplated by the TexCal Acquisition, except (a) such as may be contested in good faith or as to which a bona fide dispute may exist or (b) where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.9 Compliance with ERISA. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its ERISA Affiliates to: (a) maintain each Plan in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other federal or state law; (b) cause each Plan which is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code to maintain such qualification; and (c) make all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code.

7.10 Inspection of Property and Books and Records. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Company and such Subsidiaries. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to visit and inspect any of their respective Properties, to examine their respective corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective managers, directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Company and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; provided, however, when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Company at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

7.11 Environmental Laws. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, conduct its respective operations and keep and maintain their respective Properties in compliance with all Environmental Laws, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.12 New Subsidiary Guarantors. If, at any time after the date of this Agreement, there exists any Subsidiary with total assets with a book value of $100,000 or more, then the Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, on the date any such Subsidiary is acquired or acquires or otherwise becomes possessed of such amount of total assets, (a) cause each such Subsidiary (excluding Ellwood) to execute and deliver the Guaranty to the Administrative Agent and the Security Agreement to the Collateral Trustee, (b) pledge to the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties all of the outstanding Capital Stock thereof pursuant to a Security Document satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to be held by the First Lien Credit Agent on behalf of itself, for the benefit of the First Lien Secured Parties, and the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and (c) cause such Subsidiary to execute and deliver such Security Documents as may be required pursuant to Sections 4.2, 4.5(a) or 7.14(b). Upon the execution and delivery by any Subsidiary of a Guaranty, such Subsidiary shall automatically and immediately, and without any further action on the part of any Person, (i) become a Guarantor for all purposes of this Agreement and (ii) be deemed to have made the representations and warranties, as applied to and including such new Subsidiary from and after such time, set forth in this Agreement.

7.13 Use of Proceeds. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, use the proceeds of the Loans only for the following purposes: (i) at the TexCal Closing Time, together with approximately $160,000,000 in proceeds of the First Lien Loans, to pay the Closing Date Merger Consideration (as defined in the TexCal Acquisition Agreement) for the TexCal Acquisition (other than fees and expenses described in (ii) below) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $485,000,000; (ii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the TexCal Acquisition; (iii) to fund the acquisition, exploration and development of Hydrocarbon Interests; and (iv) for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

7.14 Further Assurances.

(a) The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, promptly (and in no event later than twenty (20) days after becoming aware of the need therefor) cure any defects in the creation and issuance of the Notes and the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Security Documents or any other instruments referred to or mentioned herein or therein. The Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, at the Company's expense, promptly (and in no event later than twenty (20) days after becoming aware of the need therefor) do all acts and things, and will execute and file or record, all instruments reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, to establish, perfect, maintain and continue the perfected security interest of the Lenders in or the Lien of the Lenders on the Mortgaged Properties.

(b) The Company shall promptly (and in no event later than ten (10) Business Days after the need arises) execute and cause its Subsidiaries that are Guarantors to execute such additional Security Documents in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, granting to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, fully perfected Liens on Oil and Gas Properties that are not then part of the Mortgaged Properties, subject only to the Liens securing the Collateral in respect of the First Lien Credit Documents (the "First Liens") and other Permitted Liens, sufficient to cause the Mortgaged Properties to include at all times eighty-five percent (85%) of the Net Present Value of the Proved Reserves and at least ninety-five percent (95%) of the Net Present Value of the Proved Developed Producing Reserves, in each case as set forth in the most recent Reserve Report. In addition, the Company and each Guarantor shall, and

shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, furnish to the Administrative Agent title due diligence in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and will furnish all other documents and information relating to such Mortgaged Properties as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. The Company shall pay the costs and expenses of all filings and recordings and all searches deemed necessary by the Administrative Agent to establish and determine the validity and the priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents; and the Company and each Guarantor shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, satisfy all other claims and charges which in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent might prejudice, impair or otherwise affect any of the Mortgaged Properties or the Lien thereon of the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

(c) With respect to any Property (other than the Cash Collateral) acquired after the Effective Date by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as to which the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, does not otherwise have fully perfected Liens subject only to the First Liens, promptly (and in no event later than twenty (20) days after becoming aware of the need therefor) take all actions necessary or advisable to grant to the Collateral Trustee, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, fully perfected security interest subject only to the First Liens and other Permitted Liens in such Property, including without limitation, the filing of UCC financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Security Documents or by law or as may be requested by the Administrative Agent.

7.15 Hedging Program. As of the Effective Date, the Company has entered into or caused its Subsidiaries to enter into, and thereafter shall maintain at all times thereafter during the relevant period, Derivative Contracts for the purpose of hedging prices on the Oil and Gas thereafter expected to be produced by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which contracts shall (a) at all times through the third anniversary of the Effective Date cover not less than 50% of the Company's and its Subsidiaries' aggregate Projected Oil and Gas Production anticipated to be sold in the ordinary course of such Persons' business during such three-year period, (b) thereafter, roll forward on a semi-annual basis in order to cover not less than 50% of the Company's and its Subsidiaries' aggregated Projected Oil and Gas Production anticipated to be sold in the ordinary course of such Person's business during the ensuing four fiscal quarters and (c) shall otherwise be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. As used in this Agreement, the term "Projected Oil and Gas Production" means the projected production of oil or gas (measured by volume unit or BTU equivalent, not sales price) for the term of the contracts or a particular half-year, as applicable, from Oil and Gas Properties and interests owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries which have attributable to them Proved Developed Producing Reserves, as such production is projected in the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section 7.2(c), after deducting projected production from any Oil and Gas Properties sold or under contract for sale that had been included in such report and after adding projected production from any Oil and Gas Properties or Hydrocarbon Interests that had not been reflected in such report but that are reflected in a separate or supplemental reports prepared on the same basis as the reports delivered pursuant to Section 7.2(c) above and otherwise are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The Company shall provide copies to the Administrative Agent of all Derivative Contracts then in effect not later than January 1 and July 1 of each year beginning July 1, 2006.

7.16 TexCal Acquisition. The Company shall cause the TexCal Acquisition to be consummated on the terms described in the TexCal Acquisition Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

VNEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, unless the Lenders waive compliance in writing:

8.1 Limitation on Liens. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any part of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) any Lien on Property of the Company or any Subsidiary as set forth in Schedule 8.1 securing Indebtedness outstanding on such date;

(b) any Lien created under any Loan Document or in respect of the Collateral Account (as defined in the Cash Collateral Agreement);

(c) Liens for Taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty, or to the extent that non payment thereof is permitted by Section 7.7;

(d) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', landlords', materialmen's, repairmen's or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business (whether by law or by contract) which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the Property subject thereto;

(e) Liens consisting of pledges or deposits required in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

(f) easements, rights of way, restrictions, defects or other exceptions to title and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, are not incurred to secure Indebtedness, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the Property subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the businesses of the Company, the Guarantors and their respective Subsidiaries;

(g) Liens on the Property of the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary of such Person securing (i) the non-delinquent performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money) or statutory obligations, (ii) Contingent Obligations on surety and appeal bonds, and (iii) other non-delinquent obligations of a like nature; in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(h) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker's liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution or under any deposit account agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that (i) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Company, (ii) the Company (or applicable Subsidiary) maintains (subject to such right of set off) dominion and control over such account(s), and (iii) such deposit account is not intended by the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary to provide cash collateral to the depository institution;

(i) Oil and Gas Liens to secure obligations which are not delinquent and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the Oil and Gas Property subject thereto; and

(j) Liens on (x) the Collateral securing the First Lien Obligations; provided, however, that such Liens are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and (y) the Cash Collateral securing the Obligations.

8.2 Disposition of Assets. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of (whether in one or a series of transactions) (collectively, "Dispositions") any Property (including accounts and notes receivable, with or without recourse) or enter into any agreement to do any of the foregoing, except:

(a) as permitted under Sections 6.10, 7.5, 8.3, 8.4, or 8.10;

(b) Dispositions of inventory including produced Oil and Gas in the ordinary course of business;

(d) used, worn out or surplus equipment in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Dispositions of accounts and notes receivable in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

(f) Dispositions of interests in Oil and Gas Properties, or portions thereof, that are sold for fair cash consideration (considering any net production proceeds from the effective date of any such Disposition to the closing thereof that are credited against the purchase price payable at such closing as Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company or such Guarantor); provided, however, that the aggregate sales prices (as of the effective date of each particular Disposition) for Dispositions made pursuant to this Section 8.2(f) during any Borrowing Base Period (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date) shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the present value of the future cash flows from Proved Reserves included in the Oil and Gas Properties as set forth in the most recent Reserve Report delivered pursuant to Section 6.11 or 7.2(c);

(g) Dispositions of interests in the Oil and Gas Properties listed on Schedule 8.2, or portions thereof, that are sold for fair cash consideration (considering any net production proceeds from the effective date of any such Disposition to the closing thereof that are credited against the purchase price payable at such closing as Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company or such Guarantor), each of which were acquired as a result of the TexCal Acquisition;

(h) the Disposition of an interest in approximately ten acres of real Property that may hereafter be acquired by the Company from ExxonMobil Corporation or an Affiliate thereof; or

(i) the dividend of the Company's interest in real Property located in Carpinteria, California (the "Carpinteria Bluffs Dividend") and the dividend of the Company's interest in real Property located in Ventura County, California (the "Ventura Dividend"), none of which constitutes Oil and Gas Properties.

8.3 Consolidations and Mergers. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, merge, consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except:

(a) any Guarantor may merge with the Company or another Guarantor; provided, however, that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation in the case of a merger involving the Company;

(b) any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may merge with the Company or a Guarantor; provided, however, that the Company or such Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation in the case of a merger involving the Company or a Guarantor;

(d) Bicycle Acquisition Company, LLC may be merged with and into TexCal Energy in consummation of the TexCal Acquisition.

8.4 Loans and Investments. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, purchase or acquire, or make any commitment therefor, any capital stock, equity interest, or any obligations or other securities of, or any interest in, any Person, or make or commit to make any Acquisitions, or make or commit to make any advance, loan, extension of credit or capital contribution to or any other investment in, any Person, including any Affiliate of the Company, except for:

(a) investments in Cash Equivalents;

(b) extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the sale or lease of goods or services in the ordinary course of business;

(d) investments in Derivative Contracts permitted under Section 8.10;

(e) investments resulting from transactions specifically permitted under Section 8.3;

(f) investments with third parties that are (i) customary in the oil and gas business, (ii) made in the ordinary course of the Company's business, and (iii) made in the form of or pursuant to operating agreements, process agreements, farm-in agreements, farm-out agreements, joint venture agreements, development agreements, unitization agreements, pooling agreements, joint bidding agreements, service contracts and other similar agreements, which do not, in any case, involve the Disposition of any Mortgaged Property covering Proved Reserves;

(g) advances by the Company to any of its full-time employees for housing loans and for the payment of relocation expenses which do not exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding in the aggregate to all such employees;

(h) acquisitions of proved Hydrocarbon Interests and related assets;

(i) provided that there shall not have occurred and be continuing a Default hereunder, and no such Default would result therefrom, the Company may make cash investments in Ellwood solely to finance capital expenditures and expenditures mandated by applicable Requirements of Law not to exceed an aggregate amount of $2,000,000 in any fiscal year; and

(j) the TexCal Acquisition.

8.5 Limitation on Indebtedness. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume, suffer to exist, or otherwise become or remain liable with respect to, any Indebtedness, except (collectively, "Permitted Indebtedness"):

(a) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Agreement;

(b) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the First Lien Credit Agreement;

(d) Indebtedness incurred under Derivative Contracts permitted under Section 8.10(a)(v)(A)(2) hereof;

(e) Indebtedness described in the definition thereof of any Loan Party not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; and

(f) Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes and the Senior Notes Indenture in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $150,000,000.

8.6 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth on Schedule 8.6, the Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction with or make any payment or transfer to any Affiliate of the Company or its shareholders, except in the ordinary course of business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company, such Guarantor or such Subsidiary than would obtain in a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate of the Company, such Guarantor or such Subsidiary or to the extent permitted under Sections 8.2(h), 8.2(i), 8.8(g), or 8.9.

8.7 Margin Stock. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, suffer or permit any Subsidiary to, use any portion of the proceeds of the Loans (i) to purchase or carry Margin Stock, (ii) to repay or otherwise refinance Indebtedness of the Company or others incurred to purchase or carry Margin Stock, (iii) to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock, or (iv) to acquire any security in any transaction that is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

8.8 Contingent Obligations. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Contingent Obligations except:

(a) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Derivative Contracts permitted under Section 8.10 hereof;

(c) obligations under plugging bonds, performance bonds and fidelity bonds issued for the account of the Company or its Subsidiaries, obligations to indemnify or make whole any surety and similar agreements incurred in the ordinary course of business and obligations of the Company under the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated November 4, 1998, as amended by the First Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement dated January 13, 1999, among the Company, Ellwood, Chevron U.S.A., Inc. and Chevron Pipeline Company;

(d) this Agreement and each Guaranty;

(e) the Real Estate Contingent Obligations;

(f) Guaranty Obligations of the Guarantors under or in respect of the First Lien Credit Documents and the Senior Note Debt Documents;

(g) indemnity obligations of the Company under the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of December 3, 2004 among the Company and the members of Xxxxxxx Energy, LLC; and

(h) obligations of the TexCal Subsidiaries in respect of "Assumed Liabilities" as such term is defined in the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of August 20, 2004 among Tri-Union Development Corporation and Tri-Union Operating Company, as Sellers and TexCal Energy, as Purchaser.

8.9 Restricted Payments. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (i) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value any membership interests, partnership interests, capital accounts, shares of its capital stock or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such membership interest, partnership interest or shares, now or

hereafter outstanding from its members, partners or stockholders (other than from its members, partners or stockholders that are Loan Parties); (ii) declare or pay any distribution, dividend or return capital to its members, partners or stockholders (other than to its members, partners or stockholders that are Loan Parties), or make any distribution of assets in cash or in kind to its members, partners or stockholders (other than to its members, partners or stockholders that are Loan Parties); or (iii) make any payment or prepayment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, or redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance (including in-substance or legal defeasance), sinking fund or similar payment with respect to, any Indebtedness outstanding under or in respect of the Senior Notes Indenture (collectively "Restricted Payments"); provided, however, that the Company may (x) make regularly scheduled payments of interest or mandatory prepayments in respect of Indebtedness under or in respect of the Senior Notes Indenture in accordance with the terms of the Senior Notes Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreement, but only to the extent required by the Senior Notes Indenture; (y) make optional prepayments in respect of any Senior Note Debt Instrument using the Net Cash Proceeds of an "Equity Offering" (as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture); and (z) declare and pay the Carpinteria Bluffs Dividend and the Ventura Dividend; provided, further, however that, in the case of any Restricted Payments permitted under clauses (x) and (z) and, in respect of prepayments with respect to the Senior Notes Indenture, Restricted Payments permitted under clauses (x) and (y), (A) no Default has occurred and is continuing and (B) no such payment shall cause a Default.

8.10 Derivative Contracts.

(a) The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or in any manner be liable on any Derivative Contract except:

(i) Derivative Contracts entered into with the purpose and effect of fixing prices on oil or gas expected to be produced by such Person; provided, however, that at all times (i) no such contract shall be for speculative purposes; (ii) as of any date (the "Calculation Date") no such contract, when aggregated with all Derivative Contracts permitted under this Section 8.10(a)(i), but excluding Derivative Contracts described in clause (v) of this Section 8.10, shall cover a notional volume in excess of the Applicable Percentage of the total Projected Oil and Gas Production to be produced in any month from the Proved Developed Producing Reserves reflected in the most recent Reserve Report; (iii) each such contract (excluding Derivative Contracts offered by national commodity exchange) shall be with the Administrative Agent, or any of the Lenders, the First Lien Credit Agent or any First Lien Lender or with a counterparty or have a guarantor of the obligation of the counterparty which, at the time the contract is made, has long-term obligations rated BBB+ or Baa1 or better, respectively, by S&P or Xxxxx'x; (iv) no such contract requires the Company to put up money, assets, letters of credit or other security against the event of its non-performance prior to actual default by the Company in performing its obligations thereunder, except Liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties under the Security Documents or the First Liens; and (v) with respect to Derivative Contracts under which the Company's, a Guarantor's or any of their respective Subsidiaries' only interest is a "put" right or which is a commodity price hedge by means of a price "floor" (A) either (1) there exists no deferred obligation to pay the related premium or other purchase price or (2) if there exists any deferred obligation to pay the related premium or other purchase price, the Company's, such Guarantor's or such Subsidiary's aggregate net exposure does not exceed at any time prior to April 30, 2006, $15,000,000, and at any time thereafter until April 30, 2007, $5,000,000, following which date no such contracts are permitted to exist and (B) all such contracts are with Qualifying Derivative Contract Counterparties.

(ii) The Existing Derivative Contracts; provided, however, that no Existing Derivative Contract may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified or extended without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders; or

(iii) Derivative Contracts entered into with the purpose and effect of fixing interest rates on a principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company that is accruing interest at a variable rate; provided, however, that (i) no such contract shall be for speculative purposes; (ii) the floating rate index of each such contract generally matches the index used to determine the floating rates of interest on the corresponding Indebtedness of the Company to be hedged by such contract, (iii) no such contract requires the Company to put up money, assets, letters of credit, or other security against the event of its non-performance prior to actual default by the Company in performing its obligations thereunder, (iv) the aggregate notional amount of the Derivative Contracts shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the Borrowing Base (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date) during any Borrowing Base Period (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date), and (v) each such contract shall be with a Lender or with a counterparty or have a guarantor of the obligation of the counterparty who, at the time the contract is made, has long-term obligations rated BBB+ or Baa1 or better, respectively, by S&P or Xxxxx'x.

(b) In the event the Company enters into a Derivative Contract with any Lender, the Contingent Obligation evidenced under such Derivative Contract shall not be applied against such Lender's Commitment nor against the Effective Amount. The benefits of the Security Documents and of the provisions of the Loan Documents relating to the Collateral shall also extend to and be available on a pro rata basis to each Qualifying Derivative Contract Counterparty in respect to all Obligations with respect to the related Qualifying Derivative Contract.

8.11 Sale Leasebacks. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, become liable, directly or by way of any Guaranty Obligation, with respect to any lease of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) whether now owned or hereafter acquired, (a) which the Company or such Subsidiary has sold or transferred or is to sell or transfer to any other Person or (b) which the Company or such Subsidiary of the Company intends to use for substantially the same purposes as any other Property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Subsidiary to any other Person in connection with such lease.

8.12 Consolidated Leverage Ratio. The Company shall not permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio to exceed 4.50 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter through the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2006; 4.00 to 1.00 for each of the fiscal quarters ending March 31 and June 30, 2007; and 3.50 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending thereafter.

8.13 Current Ratio. The Company shall not permit the ratio of Current Assets to Current Liabilities to be less than 1.00 to 1.00; provided, however, that for purposes of such ratio, assets or liabilities required by FAS 133 and 143 shall be excluded from current assets and current liabilities, respectively.

8.14 Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio. The Company shall not permit the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company, commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2006 as the last quarter in the initial period of four consecutive fiscal quarters contemplated hereby, to Consolidated Interest Expense for such period to be less than 2.50 to 1.00 for each such period ending with each fiscal quarter through the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2006; 3.00 to 1.00 for each such period ending with each of the fiscal quarters ending March 31 and June 30, 2007; and 3.50 to 1.00 for each such period ending thereafter.

8.15 Minimum PV 10 to Consolidated Total Debt Ratio. The Company shall not permit the ratio of Net Present Value to Consolidated Total Debt at the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than 1.25 to

1.00 for each fiscal quarter through the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2006 and 1.50 to 1.00 for each fiscal quarter ending thereafter.

8.16 Change in Business. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, engage in any business or activity other than the Principal Business. The Company and each Guarantor shall not permit Ellwood to, directly or indirectly, engage in any business other than the ownership and operation of common carrier crude oil pipelines.

8.17 Accounting Changes. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or change the fiscal year of the Company or of any Subsidiary.

8.18 Certain Contracts; Amendments; Multiemployer ERISA Plans. Except for the restrictions expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the First Lien Credit Documents and the Senior Notes Indenture, the Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, create, or otherwise allow to exist any contract or other consensual restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary of the Company to: (a) pay dividends or make other distributions to the Company, (b) redeem equity interests held in it by the Company, (c) repay loans and other Indebtedness owing by it to the Company, or (d) transfer any of its assets to the Company. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any "take-or-pay" contract or other contract or arrangement for the purchase of goods or services which obligates it to pay for such goods or service regardless of whether they are delivered or furnished to it, except as permitted by Section 8.5(e). The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, amend or permit any amendment to any other contract or lease which releases, qualifies, limits, makes contingent or otherwise detrimentally affects the rights and benefits of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under or acquired pursuant to any Security Documents. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any ERISA Affiliate to, incur any obligation to contribute to any Multiemployer Plan.

8.19 Senior Notes. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(a) amend or modify any of the terms or provisions of the Senior Notes Indenture or the Senior Notes if such amendment or modification would have the effect of (i) accelerating the maturity date of the principal amount thereof, or any scheduled interest payment thereon; (ii) increasing the principal amount thereof or interest rate thereon; (iii) causing, or purporting to cause the Liens securing the Obligations to cease to be permitted under the Senior Notes Indenture, (iv) causing, or purporting to cause, the Senior Notes and the Senior Note Subsidiary Guarantees to be secured (x) at any time prior to the Senior Note Lien Termination Time, other than on an "equal and ratable" basis with the Liens securing the Obligations, or (y) thereafter other than as (and only to the extent) required under Section 3.5 of the Senior Note Indenture as in effect on the Effective Date; or (v) requiring the Company to grant any Lien for the benefit of the holders thereof, other than as (and only to the extent) required under Section 3.5 of the Senior Note Indenture as in effect on the Effective Date (it being understood in all events that no Lien which would cause the Company to be required to grant any such Lien may be granted if prohibited by any term of this Agreement);

(b) amend or modify any other term or provision of the Senior Notes Indenture or Senior Notes if such amendment or modification would be materially adverse to the Lenders; or

(c) prepay, redeem, purchase or defease any Senior Notes (except with proceeds of an Equity Offering (as defined in the Senior Notes Indenture) and subject to compliance with Sections 8.9 and 2.5 hereof.

8.20 Limitation on Amendments to TexCal Acquisition Documents. The Company shall not, directly or indirectly:

(a) amend, supplement or otherwise modify any material term or condition (pursuant to a waiver granted by or to such Person or otherwise) or fail to enforce strictly the terms and conditions of the indemnities and rights furnished to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the TexCal Acquisition Documents such that after giving effect thereto such indemnities or rights shall be materially less favorable to the interests of the Loan Parties or the Lenders with respect thereto; or

(b) otherwise amend, supplement or otherwise modify or fail to enforce the terms and conditions of the TexCal Acquisition Documents except to the extent that any such amendment, supplement or modification or failure to enforce could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.21 First Lien Credit Documents. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, amend or modify any term or provision of any First Lien Credit Document unless such amendment or modification is permitted by Section 5.3(a) of the Intercreditor Agreement.

8.22 Forward Sales, Production Payments, Etc. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(a) enter into any forward sales transaction or agreement with respect to physical deliveries of Oil and Gas outside the ordinary course of business as conducted prior to the Effective Time; or

(b) sell or convey any production payment, term overriding interest, net profits interest or any similar interest (except for overriding royalty or net profits interests granted to employees or consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business in connection with the generation of prospects or the development of Oil and Gas Properties).

8.23 Use of Proceeds. The Company and each Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, use or permit the use of all or any portion of the Loans for any purpose other than those set forth in Section 7.13.

ARTICLE IX

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

9.1 Event of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an "Event of Default":

(a) Principal Non Payment. The Company fails to pay, when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of scheduled principal payment of any Loan, including any mandatory prepayment under Section 2.5 of this Agreement;

(b) Interest and Expense Non-Payment. Any Loan Party fails to pay, when and as required to be paid herein, any interest due on any Interest Payment Date, any other payments for fees, expenses, or other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document within three (3) Business Days after the same becomes due and payable;

(b) Representation or Warranty. Any written representation or warranty by the Company, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary made or deemed made herein, in any other Loan Document, or which is contained in any certificate, document or financial or other statement by the Company, any Guarantor, any other Subsidiary, or any Responsible Officer, furnished at any time under this Agreement, or in or under any other Loan Document, is incorrect in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made;

(d) Specific Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.3(a), 7.6, 7.12, 7.13 or 7.15 or in Article VIII, in the Commitment Letter or the Fee Letter Agreement;

(e) Other Defaults. The Company, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any other term or covenant contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of (i) 15 days, in the case of Sections 7.1 and 7.14 and (ii) 30 days, in all other cases after the earlier of (x) the date upon which a Responsible Officer knew or reasonably should have known of such default or (y) the date upon which written notice thereof is given to the Company by the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

(f) Cross Default. The Company, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary (i) fails to make any payment of more than $5,000,000 in respect of any Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) and such failure continues after the applicable grace or notice period, if any, specified in the relevant document on the date of such failure; or (ii) fails after the applicable grace or notice period, if any, specified in the relevant document on the date of such failure to perform or observe any other condition or covenant, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation having an aggregate principal amount of more than $5,000,000 if the effect of such failure, event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause such Indebtedness to be declared to be due and payable prior to its stated maturity, or such Contingent Obligation to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (iii) any Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation of the Company, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary in excess of $5,000,000 shall be declared due and payable prior to its stated maturity or cash collateral is demanded in respect of such Contingent Obligation; or (iv) an "Event of Default" (as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement or the Senior Notes Indenture as in effect on the Closing Date), or any other or additional "Event of Default" which may be added to or otherwise be included or exist after the Effective Date in the First Lien Credit Agreement or the Senior Notes Indenture, shall occur and be continuing; or (v) a Triggering Event shall occur;

(g) Insolvency; Voluntary Proceedings. The Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary (i) generally fails to pay, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, subject to applicable grace periods, if any, whether at stated maturity or otherwise; (ii) commences any Insolvency Proceeding with respect to itself; or (iii) takes any action to effectuate or authorize any of the foregoing;

(h) Involuntary Proceedings. (i) Any involuntary Insolvency Proceeding is commenced or filed against the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary, or any writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process, is issued or levied against all or a substantial part of the Company's, any Guarantor's or any Subsidiary's Properties, and any such proceeding or petition shall not be dismissed, or such writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process shall not be released, vacated or fully bonded within 60 days after commencement, filing or levy; (ii) the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary admits the material allegations of a petition against it in any Insolvency Proceeding, or an order for relief (or similar order under non-U.S.

law) is ordered in any Insolvency Proceeding; or (iii) the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary acquiesces in the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, mortgagee in possession (or agent therefor), or other similar Person for itself or a substantial portion of its Property or business;

(i) Monetary Judgments. One or more non-interlocutory judgments, non-interlocutory orders, decrees or arbitration awards is entered against the Company, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary involving in the aggregate a liability (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage) as to any single or related series of transactions, incidents or conditions, of $5,000,000 or more, and the same shall remain unsatisfied, unvacated and unstayed pending appeal for a period of 30 days after the entry thereof;

(j) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control;

(k) Loss of Permit. Any Governmental Authority revokes or fails to renew any material license, permit or franchise of the Company, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary, or the Company, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary for any reason loses any material license, permit or franchise, or the Company, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary suffers the imposition of any restraining order, escrow, suspension or impound of funds in connection with any proceeding (judicial or administrative) with respect to any material license, permit or franchise and, in each case, such revocation, failure or loss could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and such default remains unremedied for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (i) the date upon which a Responsible Officer knew or reasonably should have known of such default or (ii) the date upon which written notice thereof is given to the Company by the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

(l) Adverse Change. There occurs a Material Adverse Effect;

(m) Guaranty Default. A Guaranty is for any reason partially (including with respect to future advances) or wholly revoked or invalidated, or otherwise ceases to be in full force and effect, or such Guarantor or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability thereof or denies that it has any further liability or obligation thereunder;

(n) Enforceability or Perfection of Loan Documents. (i) Any Loan Document shall, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason, cease to be in full force and effect or shall be declared to be null and void, the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any Person party thereto (other than the Administrative Agent or any Lender) or any such Person party thereto (other than the Administrative Agent or any Lender) shall deny that it has any or further liability or obligation thereunder, or the Obligations shall be subordinated for any reason (other than by the consent of the Lenders); or (ii) any Lien created under any Loan Document shall fail to constitute a fully perfected Lien in a material portion of the Collateral, subject only to Permitted Liens, and such failure shall continue for at least 30 days after the earlier of (A) the date upon which a Responsible Officer knew or reasonably should have known of such default or (B) the date upon which written notice thereof is given to the Company by the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

(o) Material Agreements. The Company, any Guarantor or any other Subsidiary fails to duly observe, perform or comply with any agreement with any Person or any term or condition of any instrument, if such failure is not remedied within the applicable period of grace (if any) provided in such agreement or instrument and the termination of the instrument or agreement would have a Material Adverse Effect; or

(p) ERISA. Either (i) any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 412(a) of the Code) in excess of $100,000 exists with respect to any ERISA Plan, whether or not waived by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate, or (ii) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate

institutes steps to terminate any ERISA Plan and the then current value of such ERISA Plan's benefit liabilities exceeds the then current value of such ERISA Plan's assets available for the payment of such benefit liabilities by more than $100,000; and

(q) 2005 Audited Financial Statements. (i) The Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 shall reflect total assets of less than $290,000,000; (ii) historical Consolidated EBITDA for the 2005 fiscal year calculated from such financial statements shall be less than $95,000,000; or (iii) the opinion of the Independent Auditor on such financial statements shall not be unqualified, other than to the extent permitted by Section 7.1(a).

9.2 Remedies. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders:

(a) declare the Commitment, if any, of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, or declare all or any part of the unpaid principal of the Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon and all other amounts payable under the Loan Documents to be immediately due and payable, whereupon the same shall, without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intention to accelerate, notice of acceleration, or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Company and each Guarantor;

(b) give notice thereof to the Collateral Trustee and issue directions to the Collateral Trustee to commence exercise of any of the Collateral Trustee's rights and remedies under the Collateral Trust Agreement and the other Security Documents and otherwise direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for the exercise of any right or remedy available to the Collateral Trustee with respect to the Collateral, or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Collateral Trustee, or for the taking of any other action authorized by the instruments comprising the Trust Estate (including the making of any determinations to be made by the Collateral Trustee thereunder); and

(c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable law; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any event specified in Section 9.1(g) or (h) (in the case of clause (i) of Section 9.1(h) upon the expiration of the 60-day period mentioned therein), the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate and the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable without further act of the Administrative Agent, or any Lender and without presentment, demand, protest, notice of intention to accelerate, notice of acceleration or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Company and each Guarantor.

9.3 Rights Not Exclusive. The rights provided for in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights, powers, privileges or remedies provided by law or in equity, or under any other instrument, document or agreement now existing or hereafter arising.

ARTICLE X

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

10.1 Appointment and Authorization; Limitation of Agency. Each Lender hereby irrevocably (subject to Section 10.9) appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental

thereto. The duties of the Administrative Agent shall be administrative and mechanical in nature; notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent, under any circumstances, have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Person, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent.

10.2 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees or attorneys in fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney in fact that it selects with reasonable care.

10.3 Liability of Administrative Agent. None of the Administrative Agent-Related Persons shall (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by the Company, any Guarantor or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, or any officer thereof, contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness (other than such Administrative Agent- Related Person's own due execution and delivery), genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any failure of the Company, any Guarantor or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Administrative Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the Properties, books or records of the Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

10.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent.

(a) The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Lenders and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Lenders.

(b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 5.1, each Lender that has made available to the Administrative Agent its Pro Rata Share of the initial Credit Extension or subsequent Credit Extension, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter either sent by the Administrative Agent to such Lender for consent, approval, acceptance or satisfaction,

or required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Lender as a condition precedent to such initial Credit Extension or subsequent Credit Extension, as applicable.

10.5 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, except with respect to Defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Company referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of default". The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. Subject to Section 10.4(a), the Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Lenders in accordance with Article IX; provided, however, that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such request, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

10.6 Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that no Administrative Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Administrative Agent-Related Person hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Company, any Guarantor or their respective Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Administrative Agent-Related Person to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Administrative Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, Property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Company, and all applicable bank regulatory laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Company hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Administrative Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, Property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Company. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly herein required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, Property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the Company which may come into the possession of any of the Administrative Agent-Related Persons.

10.7 Indemnification. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand the Administrative Agent-Related Persons (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Company and without limiting the obligation of the Company to do so), pro rata according to each respective Lender's Pro Rata Share, each Administrative Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities INCLUDING SUCH INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES AS MAY ARISE OR BE CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE, SOLE, JOINT, CONCURRENT, COMPARATIVE OR OTHERWISE OF SUCH ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT-RELATED PERSONS; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Administrative Agent-Related Persons of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities to the extent the same arise from (i) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Administrative Agent-Related Person or (ii) a claim or action asserted by one or more other Administrative Agent-Related Persons. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out of pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred

by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Company. The undertaking in this Section 10.7 shall survive the payment of all Obligations hereunder and the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent.

10.8 Administrative Agent in Individual Capacity. Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, and its Affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from, acquire or underwrite equity or debt securities of and generally engage in any kind of banking, investment banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Company and its Affiliates as though Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, was not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Company or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Company or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent-Related Persons shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to Obligations held by it, Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent.

10.9 Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon 30 days' notice to the Lenders. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor administrative agent for the Lenders. If no successor administrative agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders, a successor administrative agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor administrative agent hereunder, such successor administrative agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and the term "Administrative Agent" shall mean such successor administrative agent and the retiring Administrative Agent's appointment, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article X and Sections 11.4 and 11.5 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date which is 30 days following a retiring Administrative Agent's notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent's resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Lenders appoint a successor administrative agent as provided for above.

10.10 Withholding Tax.

(a) If any Lender is a "foreign corporation, partnership or trust" within the meaning of the Code and such Lender claims exemption from, or a reduction of, U.S. withholding Tax under Sections 1441 or 1442 of the Code, such Lender agrees with and in favor of the Administrative Agent, to deliver to the Administrative Agent:

(i) if such Lender claims an exemption from, or a reduction of, withholding Tax under a United States Tax treaty, properly completed IRS Forms 1001 and W 8 before the payment of any interest in the first calendar year and before the payment of any interest in each third succeeding calendar year during which interest may be paid under this Agreement;

(ii) if such Lender claims that interest paid under this Agreement is exempt from United States withholding Tax because it is effectively connected with a United States trade or business of such Lender, two properly completed and executed copies of IRS Form 4224

before the payment of any interest is due in the first taxable year of such Lender and in each succeeding taxable year of such Lender during which interest may be paid under this Agreement, and IRS Form W 9; and

(iii) such other form or forms as may be required under the Code or other laws of the United States as a condition to exemption from, or reduction of, United States withholding Tax.

Such Lender agrees to promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction.

(b) If any Lender claims exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax under a United States Tax treaty by providing IRS Form 1001 and such Lender sells, assigns, grants a participation in, or otherwise transfers all or part of the Obligations held by such Lender, such Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent of the percentage amount in which it is no longer the beneficial owner of Obligations held by such Lender. To the extent of such percentage amount, the Administrative Agent will treat such Lender's IRS Form 1001 as no longer valid.

(c) If any Lender claiming exemption from United States withholding Tax by filing IRS Form 4224 with the Administrative Agent sells, assigns, grants a participation in, or otherwise transfers all or part of the Obligations held by such Lender, such Lender agrees to undertake sole responsibility for complying with the withholding Tax requirements imposed by Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code.

(d) If any Lender is entitled to a reduction in the applicable withholding Tax, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable withholding Tax after taking into account such reduction. If the forms or other documentation required by Section 10.10(a) of this Section are not delivered to the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Lender not providing such forms or other documentation an amount equivalent to the applicable withholding Tax.

(e) If the IRS or any other Governmental Authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding Tax ineffective, or for any other reason) such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Tax or otherwise, including penalties and interest, and including any Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to the Administrative Agent under this Section 10.10(e), together with all costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs). The obligation of the Lenders under this Section 10.10(e) shall survive the payment of all Obligations and the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent.

10.11 Arrangers; Syndication Agents. Each of the Arrangers and the Syndication Agent, in their respective capacities as such, shall have no duties or responsibilities, and shall incur no liability, under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

10.12 Release of Collateral. The Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized by each of the Lenders to instruct the Collateral Trustee to effect any release of Liens or guarantee obligations contemplated by Section 11.26.

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

11.1 Amendments and Waivers. No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent with respect to any departure by the Company, any Guarantor or any applicable Subsidiary therefrom, shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent at the written request of the Required Lenders) and the Company and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and then any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it is given; provided, however, that no such waiver, amendment, modification, termination or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders and the Company and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, do any of the following:

(a) increase or extend the Commitment of any Lender;

(b) postpone the final maturity date of any Loan, or postpone or delay any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder (including any mandatory prepayments thereof) or under any other Loan Document;

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on any Loan, or (subject to clause (ii) below) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder (including any mandatory prepayments thereof) or under any other Loan Document;

(d) change the Pro Rata Shares or change in any manner the definition of "Required Lenders" or the Lenders required to rescind or annul an acceleration;

(e) amend this Section 11.1 or Section 9.1, or any provision of this Agreement which, by its terms, expressly requires the approval or concurrence of all Lenders; or

(f) release all, substantially all, or any material portion of the Collateral (except for releases in connection with Dispositions which are permitted hereunder or under any Loan Document), or release any Guarantor from any Guaranty;

provided further, however, that (i) any amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any of the provisions contained in Article V shall be effective only if evidenced by a writing signed by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, and (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Required Lenders or all the Lenders, as the case may be, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

11.2 Notices.

(a) All notices, requests and other communications shall be in writing and mailed, faxed or delivered, to the address or facsimile number specified for notices on the signature pages hereof; or, as directed to the Company or the Administrative Agent, to such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties, and as directed to any other party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the Company and the Administrative Agent.

(b) All such notices, requests and communications shall, when transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered for overnight (next-day) delivery, or transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the U.S. mail, or if delivered, upon delivery; except that notices pursuant to Article II or IX shall not be effective until actually received by the Administrative Agent.

(c) Any agreement of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders herein to receive certain notices by telephone or facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the request of the Company. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by the Company to give such notice and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall not have any liability to the Company or other Person on account of any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in reliance upon such telephonic or facsimile notice. The obligation of the Company to repay the Loans shall not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile notice or the receipt by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of a confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to be contained in the telephonic or facsimile notice.

11.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.

11.4 Costs and Expenses. The Company shall:

(a) whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent within five Business Days after demand (subject to Section 5.1(e)) for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any other Agent, the Lenders or any of their Affiliates in connection with the syndications of the extensions of credit hereunder (other than fees payable to syndicate members) and the development, preparation, delivery, administration and execution of, and any amendment, supplement, waiver or modification to (in each case, whether or not consummated), this Agreement, any Loan Document and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the syndication of the credit facilities provided herein, including Attorney Costs incurred by the any such Person with respect thereto except such costs and expenses as may be incurred by the assignor Lenders or Assignee under Section 11.8(a); and

(b) pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, any other Agent and each Lender within five Business Days after demand (subject to Subsection 5.1(e)) for all costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by each of them in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document during the existence of an Event of Default or after acceleration of the Loans (including in connection with any "workout" or restructuring regarding the Loans, and including in any Insolvency Proceeding or appellate proceeding).

11.5 Indemnity. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company shall indemnify and hold each Agent-Related Person and each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates, successors and assignors and its and their respective officers, directors, employees, counsel, agents, advisors, controlling Persons, members and attorneys in fact (each, an "Indemnified Person") harmless from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, charges, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time (including at any time following repayment of the Loans, and the termination, resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or replacement of any Lender) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Person in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, including any of the Transaction Documents, or the transactions contemplated hereby, including the TexCal Acquisition,

or any action taken or omitted by any such Person under or in connection with any of the foregoing, including with respect to any investigation, litigation or proceeding (including any Insolvency Proceeding or appellate proceeding) related to or arising out of this Agreement, any Transaction Agreement, the Loans or the use of the proceeds thereof, whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the "Indemnified Liabilities"), WHETHER OR NOT SUCH INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES ARISE OUT OF OR AS A RESULT OF ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY'S NEGLIGENCE IN WHOLE OR IN PART, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE CLAIMS WHICH RESULT FROM THE SOLE, JOINT, CONCURRENT OR COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY, OR ANY ONE OR MORE OF THEM; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Person with respect to Indemnified Liabilities to the extent same arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Indemnified Person. No Indemnified Person shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unauthorized Persons of information or other materials sent through electronic, telecommunications or other information transmission systems that are intercepted by such Persons or for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages in connection with this Agreement. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than thirty (30) days after written demand therefor. The agreements in this Sections 11.4 and 11.5 shall survive payment of all other Obligations.

11.6 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, or the Administrative Agent or the Lenders exercise their right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, debtor-in-possession, receiver or any other Person, in connection with any Insolvency Proceeding or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender upon demand its Pro Rata Share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender.

11.7 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall become effective at the Effective Time after it shall have been executed by the Company, each Original Guarantor and the Administrative Agent and after the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender that such Lender has executed it and thereafter this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Company may not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender.

11.8 Assignments, Participations, etc.

(a) Each Lender may assign to one or more assignees (each, an "Assignee") all or a portion of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that (i) the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance in the form of Exhibit "E" (the "Assignment and Acceptance") with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent and determined on an aggregate basis in the event of concurrent assignments to Related Funds (as defined below)) shall not, unless consented to by the Administrative Agent, be less than $1,000,000 (or, if less, the entire remaining amount of such Lender's Commitment or Loans), (ii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative

Agent (or, if previously agreed with the Administrative Agent, manually) and shall pay to the Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500.00 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), provided, however, that only one such fee shall be payable in the case of concurrent assignments to Persons that, after giving effect to such assignments, will be Related Funds and (iii) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire in such form as supplied from time to time by the Administrative Agent (an "Administrative Questionnaire") and all applicable tax forms. Upon acceptance and recording pursuant to Section 11.8(c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, (A) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement and (B) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Article III and Section 11.5, as well as to any fees accrued for its account prior to the effective date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance and not yet paid). The term "Related Funds" shall mean with respect to any Lender that is a fund or combined investment vehicle that invests in bank loans, any other fund that invests in bank loans and is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

(b) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender thereunder and the Assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that its Commitment, and the outstanding balances of its Loans, in each case without giving effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth in such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) except as set forth in (i) above, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of the Company or any Subsidiary or the performance or observance by the Company or any Subsidiary of any of its obligations under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such Assignee represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such Assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 5.1 or delivered pursuant to Section 7.1, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral Trust Agreement and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (v) such Assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (vi) such Assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement, respectively, as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee, respectively, by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such Assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender and will be bound by and

will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Trust Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, without any independent investigation, on the representations and warranties and other statements deemed to be made by the assigning Lender and the Assignee pursuant to this Section 11.8(c) and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.

(c) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Company, shall maintain at one of its offices in The City of New York a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it. Upon its receipt of, and consent to, a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, an Administrative Questionnaire completed in respect of the Assignee (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 11.8(b) above, if applicable, and the written consent of the Administrative Agent to such assignment and any applicable tax forms, the Administrative Agent shall (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance and (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in Section 11.8(c). The Register shall be available for inspection by the Company or any Lender (with respect to any entry relating to such Lender's Loans) at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPC"), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Company, the option to provide to the Company all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Company on the Effective Date pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior Indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 11.8, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Company and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(e) Within five Business Days after its receipt of notice by the Administrative Agent that it has received an executed Assignment and Acceptance and payment of the processing fee, if a Note was issued in respect of the assigned interests, upon the request of the Administrative Agent by the Assignee, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a new Note evidencing such Assignee's assigned Loans and, if the assignor Lender has retained a portion of its Loans and its Commitment, a replacement Note, upon the request of the Administrative Agent by

the assignor Lender, in the principal amount equal to the Loans and Commitments, if any, retained by the assignor Lender (such Note to be in exchange for, but not in payment of, the Note held by such Lender).

(f) Any Lender may at any time sell to one or more commercial banks or other Persons not Affiliates of the Company (a "Participant") participating interests in any Loans, the Commitment of that Lender, if any, and the other interests of that Lender (the "Originating Lender") hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that (i) the Originating Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, the Originating Lender shall remain a Lender for all purposes hereof and the other Loan Documents to which such Originating Lender is a party, and the Participant may not become a Lender for purposes hereof or for any other of the Loan Documents, (ii) the Originating Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performance of such obligations, (iii) the Company and the Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with the Originating Lender in connection with the Originating Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (iv) no Lender shall transfer or grant any participating interest under which the Participant has rights to approve any amendment to, or any consent or waiver with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except to the extent such amendment, consent or waiver would require unanimous consent of the Lenders. In the case of any such participation, the Participant shall not have any rights under this Agreement, or any of the other Loan Documents (the Participant's rights against the Originating Lender in respect of such participation being those set forth in the agreement creating or evidencing such participation with such Lender), and all amounts payable by the Company hereunder shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participation; except that, if amounts outstanding under this Agreement are due and unpaid, or shall have been declared or shall have become due and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, each Participant shall be deemed to have the right of set off in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement to the same extent as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under this Agreement.

(g) Each Lender agrees to take normal and reasonable precautions and exercise due care to maintain the confidentiality of all information identified as "confidential" or "secret" by the Company and provided to it by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or by the Administrative Agent on such Company's or Subsidiary's behalf, under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and neither it nor any of its Affiliates shall use any such information other than in connection with or in enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, except to the extent such information (i) was or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by such Lender, or (ii) was or becomes available on a non confidential basis from a source other than the Company, provided, however, that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company known to the Lender; provided further, however, that any Lender may disclose such information (A) at the request or pursuant to any requirement of any Governmental Authority to which such Lender is subject or in connection with an examination of such Lender by any such authority; (B) pursuant to subpoena or other court process; (C) when required to do so in accordance with the provisions of any applicable Requirement of Law; (D) to the extent reasonably required in connection with any litigation or proceeding to which the Administrative Agent, any Lender or their respective Affiliates may be party; (E) to the extent reasonably required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document; (F) to such Lender's independent auditors and other professional advisors; (G) to any Affiliate of such Lender, or to any Participant or Assignee, actual or potential, provided that such Affiliate, Participant or Assignee agrees to keep such information confidential to the same extent required of the Lenders hereunder, and (H) as to any Lender, as expressly permitted under the terms of any other document or agreement regarding confidentiality to which the Company is party or is deemed party with such Lender.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in, or pledge, all or any portion of its rights under and interest in this Agreement and the Notes held by it in favor of any Federal Reserve Lender in accordance with Regulation A of the FRB or U.S. Treasury Regulation 31 CFR §203.14, and such Federal Reserve Lender may enforce such pledge or security interest in any manner permitted under applicable law. Any Lender may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure extensions of credit to such Lender or in support of obligations owed by such Lender; provided, however, that no such assignment shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 11.8(g) or any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any party hereto or thereto (and each employee, representative, or other agent of such party) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and all materials of any kind in each case within the meaning of United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4 (including opinions or other Tax analyses) that are provided to such party relating to such Tax treatment and Tax structure; provided, however, that with respect to any document or similar item that in either case contains information concerning Tax treatment or Tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as well as other information, this Section 11.8(i) shall only apply to such portions of the document or similar item that relate to such Tax treatment or Tax structure.

11.9 Interest. It is the intention of the parties hereto to comply with applicable usury laws, if any; accordingly, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, the Notes or in any of the other Loan Documents securing the payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, in no event shall this Agreement, the Notes or such other Loan Documents require or permit the payment, taking, reserving, receiving, collection, or charging of any sums constituting interest under applicable laws which exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If any such excess interest is called for, contracted for, charged, taken, reserved, or received in connection with the Loans evidenced by the Notes or in any of the Loan Documents securing the payment thereof or otherwise relating thereto, or in any communication by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders or any other Person to the Company or any other Person, or in the event all or part of the principal or interest thereof shall be prepaid or accelerated, so that under any of such circumstances or under any other circumstance whatsoever the amount of interest contracted for, charged, taken, reserved, or received on the amount of principal actually outstanding from time to time under the Notes or any other Loan Document shall exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, then in any such event it is agreed as follows: (i) the provisions of this Section 11.9 shall govern and control, (ii) neither any Company nor any other Person now or hereafter liable for the payment of the Notes shall be obligated to pay the amount of such interest to the extent such interest is in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, (iii) any such excess which is or has been received notwithstanding this Section 11.9 shall be credited against the then unpaid principal balance of the Notes or, if the Notes have been or would be paid in full, refunded to the Company, and (iv) the provisions of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents securing the payment thereof and otherwise relating thereto, and any communication to the Company, shall immediately be deemed reformed and such excess interest reduced, without the necessity of executing any other document, to the Highest Lawful Rate as now or hereafter construed by courts having jurisdiction hereof or thereof. Without limiting the foregoing, all calculations of the rate of the interest contracted for, charged, collected, taken, reserved, or received in connection with the Notes, this Agreement or any other Loan Document which are made for the purpose of determining whether such rate exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate shall be made to the extent permitted by applicable laws by amortizing, prorating, allocating and spreading during the period of the full term of the Loans, including all prior and subsequent renewals and extensions, all interest at any time contracted for, charged, taken, collected, reserved, or received.

The terms of this Section 11.9 shall be deemed to be incorporated in every document and communication relating to the Notes, the Loans or any other Loan Document.

11.10 Indemnity and Subrogation. In addition to all such rights of indemnity and subrogation as any Guarantor may have under applicable law, the Company agrees that in the event a payment shall be made by a Guarantor under a Guaranty in respect of a Credit Extension to the Company, the Company shall indemnify such Guarantor for the full amount of such payment and such Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Person to whom such payment shall have been made to the extent of such payment subject to the provisions of the Guaranty executed by such Guarantor. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all rights of the Guarantors under this Section 11.10 and all other rights of indemnity, contribution or subrogation under applicable law or otherwise shall be fully subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full of the Obligations, and no payments may be made in respect of such rights of indemnity, contribution or subrogation until all the Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitment shall have expired. No failure on the part of the Company to make the payments required by this Section 11.10 (or any other payments required under applicable law or otherwise) shall in any respect limit the obligations and liabilities of the Guarantors with respect to any Guaranty, and each Guarantor shall remain liable for the full amount of the obligation of the Guarantors under each such Guaranty in accordance therewith.

11.11 Automatic Debits of Fees. With respect to any fee or any other cost or expense (including Attorney Costs) due and payable to the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents, the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, after giving reasonable prior notice to the Company, to debit any deposit account of the Company with the Administrative Agent in an amount such that the aggregate amount debited from all such deposit accounts does not exceed such fee or other cost or expense. If there are insufficient funds in such deposit accounts to cover the amount of the fee or other cost or expense then due, such debits will be reversed (in whole or in part, in the Administrative Agent's sole discretion) and such amount not debited shall be deemed to be unpaid. No such debit under this Section 11.11 shall be deemed a set-off.

11.12 Notification of Addresses, Lending Offices, Etc. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any changes in the address to which notices to the Lender should be directed, of addresses of any Lending Office, of payment instructions in respect of all payments to be made to it hereunder and of such other administrative information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

11.13 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, no one of which need be signed by all parties; each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, and all of such counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute but one and the same instrument. A fully executed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile signatures shall be binding upon the parties hereto.

11.14 Severability. The illegality or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereunder shall not in any way affect or impair the legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement or any instrument or agreement required hereunder.

11.15 No Third Parties Benefited. This Agreement is made and entered into for the sole protection and legal benefit of the Company, the Guarantors, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent-Related Persons and the Indemnified Persons, and their permitted successors and assigns, and no other Person shall be a direct or indirect legal beneficiary of, or have any direct or indirect cause of action or claim in connection with, this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

11.16 Governing Law, Jurisdiction. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

11.17 Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. Each of the Company and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to irrevocably and unconditionally:

(a) submit, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Company and each Guarantor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(b) waive, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(c) consent to service of process in the manner provided for notices herein. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

11.18 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, embodies the entire agreement and understanding among the Company, the Guarantors, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings of such Persons, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

11.19 NO ORAL AGREEMENTS. THIS WRITTEN TERM LOAN AGREEMENT, TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER WRITTEN LOAN DOCUMENTS EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

11.20 Accounting Changes. In the event that any "Accounting Change" (as defined below) shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then the Company and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to equitably reflect such Accounting Change with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Company's financial condition shall be the same after such Accounting Change as if such Accounting Change had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such Accounting Change had not occurred. "Accounting Change" refers to any change in accounting principles required by the

promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or, if applicable, the SEC.

11.21 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ETC. THE COMPANY AND EACH LENDER HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, INTENTIONALLY, AND IRREVOCABLY (A) WAIVES, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AT ANY TIME ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED THEREBY OR ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, BEFORE OR AFTER MATURITY; (B) WAIVES, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO CLAIM OR RECOVER IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION ANY "SPECIAL DAMAGES", AS DEFINED BELOW, (C) CERTIFIES THAT NO PARTY HERETO NOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE OR AGENT OR COUNSEL FOR ANY PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, OR IMPLIED THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS, AND (D) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 11.21. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "SPECIAL DAMAGES" INCLUDES ALL SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (REGARDLESS OF HOW NAMED), BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PAYMENTS OR FUNDS WHICH ANY PARTY HERETO HAS EXPRESSLY PROMISED TO PAY OR DELIVER TO ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO.

11.22 Intercreditor Agreement; Collateral Trust Agreement. Each Lender (a) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and take no actions contrary to the Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Trust Agreement and (b) hereby irrevocably authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement on its behalf.

11.23 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with said Act.

11.24 Acknowledgments. Each of the Company and each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that:

(a) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(b) neither the Administrative Agent nor the other Agents nor any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to the Company or any Guarantor arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Administrative Agent, the other Agents and the Lenders, on one hand, and the Company and the Guarantors, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

(c) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Administrative Agent, the other Agents and the Lenders or among the Company and the Guarantors and the Lenders.

11.25 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made herein, in the other Loan Documents and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the

consummation of the TexCal Acquisition and the making of the Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder.

11.26 Release of Collateral and Guarantee Obligations.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document (other than the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement), upon request of the Company in connection with any Disposition of Property permitted by the Loan Documents, but subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and the Collateral Trust Agreement, unless a Triggering Event has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Lender or any Qualified Derivative Contract Counterparty) (i) issue written directions to the Collateral Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02 of the Collateral Trust Agreement authorizing the Collateral Trustee to release its security interest in any Collateral being Disposed of in such Disposition and (ii) take such actions as shall be required to release any guarantee obligations under any Loan Document of any Person being Disposed of in such Disposition, to the extent necessary to permit consummation of such Disposition in accordance with the Loan Documents; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee, at least ten Business Days prior to the date of the proposed release (or such shorter period agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Trustee), a written request for release identifying the relevant Collateral being Disposed of in such Disposition and the terms of such Disposition in reasonable detail, including the date thereof, the price thereof and any expenses in connection therewith, together with a certification by the Company stating that such transaction is in compliance with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and that the proceeds of such Disposition will be applied in accordance with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or any other Loan Document, when all Obligations (other than obligations in respect of any Qualified Derivative Contract) have been paid in full and all Commitments have terminated or expired, upon request of the Company, the Administrative Agent shall (without notice to, or vote or consent of, any Lender, or any Qualified Derivative Contract Counterparty) (i) issue written directions to the Collateral Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02 of the Collateral Trust Agreement authorizing the Collateral Trustee to release its security interest in all Collateral, and (ii) take such actions as shall be required to release all guarantee obligations provided for in any Loan Document, whether or not on the date of such release there may be outstanding Obligations in respect of the Qualified Derivative Contracts. Any such release of guarantee obligations shall be deemed subject to the provision that such guarantee obligations shall be reinstated if after such release any portion of any payment in respect of the Obligations guaranteed thereby shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or any Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Company or any Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

		COMPANY:
		VENOCO, INC.
		By:		/s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Chief Executive Officer
		ORIGINAL GUARANTORS:
		WHITTIER PIPELINE CORPORATION
		By:		/s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx President
		BMC, LTD.
		By:		Venoco, Inc., General Partner
		By:		/s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Chief Executive Officer
		Address for Notice: Principal Place of Business and Chief Executive Office:
				000 00^xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000 Attention: Chief Financial Officer Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
		ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND A LENDER:
		CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, as Administrative Agent and a Lender
		By:		/s/ XXXXXXX XXXXX Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Title: Vice President
		By:		/s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Title: Associate

		Address:		Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
		Facsimile No.1:		(000) 000-0000
		Facsimile No.2:		(000) 000-0000
		Attention:		Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
		with copy to:
		Address:		Credit Suisse Transaction Management Group Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
		Facsimile No.:		(000) 000-0000
		Attention:		Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
		Applicable Lending Office for Base Rate Loans and LIBO Rate Loans:
		Address:		Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
		Facsimile No.1:		(000) 000-0000
		Facsimile No.2:		(000) 000-0000
		Attention:		Xx Xxxxxxxxx

		SYNDICATION AGENT:
		XXXXXX BROTHERS INC.
		By:		/s/ XXXXXX XXXXXX Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Title: Senior Vice President

		Address:		000 0^xx Xxxxxx, 0^xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
		Facsimile No.:		000-000-0000
		Attention:		Xxxxx Xxxxxx
		with copy to:
		Address:		000 0^xx Xxxxxx, 0^xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
		Facsimile No.:		000-000-0000
		Attention:		Xxxxx Eng